Chart shows why a lot of people are scratching their heads over the Chris Paul trade

Chris Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets in the latest blockbuster move to shake up the NBA.

While success in this era of the NBA requires multiple star players, before Paul even arrived in Houston, many were asking the same question: How can Paul and James Harden — two of the league’s most ball-dominant players — co-exist in the same offense?

Presumably Harden and Paul both understand that something needs to change for them to work together, and may have even already discussed the matter during Harden’s recruitment of Paul. But as the chart below shows, it is going to require a major change for one or both players.

Only 12 players in the NBA had the ball in their hands more than seven minutes per game last season, and two of those players are Paul and Harden, with Harden tied for the league lead at 8.9 minutes of ball possession per game.

Diana Yukari/Business Insider