How each blockbuster free agent decision impacts the Utah Jazz

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HOUSTON, TX – MAY 24: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets looks on in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 24, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

CP3 inks massive deal to stay in Houston

Unlike the Paul George situation, Chris Paul‘s decision to stay with the Houston Rockets came as little surprise. Considering that, had Paul stayed healthy, the Rockets may have very well sneaked past the Warriors to earn an NBA Finals bid and go on to win the championship, it stands to reason that he’d want to come back for another run.

In the short term, this gives the Rockets a great shot at repeating as the top seed in the West this next season, assuming Paul can stay healthy. His decision to stick in Houston more than likely keeps the Rockets ahead of the Jazz in the standings and roots them firmly in Utah’s way of competing for a championship.

Houston was an extremely talented team this past season, and though losing Trevor Ariza will be a tough blow, with Chris Paul and James Harden leading the charge, they’ll still be an exceptional team in 2018-19.

https://twitter.com/CP3/status/1013271051764158464

However, the Paul deal also has an interesting impact on the Jazz down the road. Towards the latter half of CP3’s four-year, $160 million deal, there’s a good chance that age and/or injury will have slowed him down significantly. While his presence allows the Rockets to remain elite for this year and probably next year, by years three and four, it could very well be detrimental to Houston and allow the young and financially savvy Jazz to leapfrog them in the standings.

A lot could change between then and now, and Utah’s chances of getting past them this next year are slim to none. However, unlike the Golden State Warriors who appear to have a true dynastic clutch on the league, the Rockets’ window of competing for a championship might be smaller than some may think.

The more Western Conference teams that slowly start to fade in the coming years as Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell continue to grow and improve, the better it will be for the Utah Jazz.

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