Chris Paul did not expect to be traded Sunday.
Certainly not while he was flying thousands of feet in the air.
The Phoenix Suns stunned the NBA world Sunday, trading the 12-time All-Star to the Washington Wizards in exchange for three-time All-Star guard Bradley Beal. The deal also involved Suns guard Landry Shamet and multiple draft choices.
According to TNT’s Chris Haynes, the Wizards are expected to trade Paul, possibly to the Los Angeles Clippers.
When/if he’s traded again, hopefully Paul learns of the trade under different circumstances. During an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America Monday to plug his new memoir, Sixty-One, Paul had to first field questions about the blockbuster trade.
Co-host Michael Strahan told Paul, “I was surprised. What are your first thoughts on that?”
“I was surprised too,” Paul said, drawing a round of laughter from the GMA crew. “I found out on the plane yesterday flying here. In this league anything can happen, so you just figure out what’s next.”
GMA co-host George Stephanopoulos then asked Paul, “You literally found out on the plane?”
“Absolutely,” Paul replied.
“I was surprised too … in this league anything can happen.”
Chris Paul says he found out on a flight to NYC on Sunday about reports of being traded to the Washington Wizards by the Phoenix Suns.@CP3#NBA pic.twitter.com/MbDpnf129h
— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 19, 2023
Strahan shut down the discussion at that point, saying “Don’t push him any further, he’s trying to be nice about it.”
