The day after Monday's opening of the NBA transaction window was filled with surprises. Usually there are way more rumors about who's going where than the number of the trades that really happen, but not this time.

Phoenix Suns land Chris Paul

Last week, when CGTN reported that the Phoenix Suns were the only team picking up Oklahoma City Thunder's phone call to talk about acquiring Chris Paul, we expected their move would stimulate others to also make an offer on the 35-year-old 10-time All-Star point guard.

However, Phoenix beat them to it again.

Phoenix landed Paul and Abdel Nader by sending Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick to OKC.

The 8-0 record in the bubble must have given Suns owner Robert Sarver and the team's general manager James Jones enough confidence that they believed it was time to aim for something bigger than playoff qualifications. Paul is five years older than Rubio but he is way more of an offensive threat than the former Spanish golden boy. Paul no longer has the strength to play for 48 minutes at top performance, but he was still one of the most lethal guys in the clutch by leading the league with 146 points. Moreover, he did it with an incredible efficiency of 53.5 percent (46-86) of field goal rate.

Imagine how you would feel if you had to face both Paul and Devin Booker when a game is on the line.

Meanwhile, Paul's arrival should be of great help to Deandre Ayton. The 22-year-old has brilliant physical gifts but has been outshined by Luka Doncic and Trae Young for the past two years, though Ayton was selected as the first pick in the same draft with the other two.

Having played only 38 games because injury last season, Ayton averaged 18.2 points and 11.5 rebounds. The numbers were not bad but Ayton, who is 2.11 meters tall, 113 kilograms and has wingspan of 2.27 meters, only earned 2.3 free throws per game. Phoenix need him to be more aggressive and to light Talking Stick Resort Arena up with a play-of-the-day dunk. Who is better than Paul to make that happen?

Meanwhile, let's congratulate Sam Presti, general manager of OKC for expanding his first-rounders between 2020 and 2026 to 17.

James Harden asks Houston Rockets to trade him to Brooklyn Nets

When Russell Westbrook said he wanted to leave the Houston Rockets, it still kept the team warm at night knowing that James Harden remained "committed" to staying.

That ceased to be true in less than a week. Harden has rejected a two-year, $103 million contract extension and requested Houston to send him to the Brooklyn Nets, according to ESPN.

Apparently the chance of becoming the first NBA player to make $50 million a year is not lucrative enough for Harden compared to the opportunity to join Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant and chase his first ring.

After the season ended, talks between Harden and Nets' players Durant and Irving intensified on the West Coast. Brooklyn and Houston already made contact. Though so far no progress has been made and Houston will understandably put an exorbitant price tag on Harden; it will be worth it as long as you can put three of the best isolation players in NBA history in your squad.

Harden "believes his window to chase championships in Houston has ended," according to ESPN. Anthony Davis joining the Los Angeles Lakers last season – at a huge cost – and winning the championship with LeBron James, definitely gave Harden an idea, especially after James and Davis reached the Western Conference Finals over Harden and the Rockets.

Houston, at the same time, seemed to be preparing themselves for a possible rebuilding phase. ESPN reported that the team is finalizing a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers to send Robert Covington to Rip City while getting Trevor Ariza, a 2020 first-round pick and a 2021 protected first-round pick.

Ariza is a good and familiar face to Houston, but he is also a 35-year-old forward. By contrast, Covington is six years younger and can play as a center in a small-ball squad. Covington is one of Houston's the most valuable assets. Since Houston sent him away, they are truly saying goodbye to the "Moneyball" concept. It begs the question, is that the only thing they are bidding farewell to?

Milwaukee Bucks show Giannis Antetokounmpo their sincerity

Less than two weeks ago, when we were looking at the dilemma faced by Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, we pointed out that the Bucks were having a hard time deciding whether they should bet all they have on the Greek Freak's last-year contract.

It seems Milwaukee just made their decision. First they introduced Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans by trading Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three first-rounders and a pair of pick draft pick swaps. Then in another deal with the Sacramento Kings, Donte DiVincenzo, D.J. Wilson and Ersan Ilyasova were put in a package in exchange for Bogdan Bogdanovic and Justin James.

When the Bucks were knocked out by the Miami Heat in the playoffs last season, Miami took full advantage of Milwaukee's lack of quality shooters, especially in the point guard position. Bogdanovic averaged 7.2 attempts behind the triple line and made 2.7 of them per game last season. Holiday is not a sharp shooter but he is a bigger threat than Bledsoe in the middle range.

So, should Antetokounmpo sign that five-year, $253 million supermax contract with Milwaukee next summer?

Perhaps he does not need to hurry. Yes, Bogdanovic is a great shooter; yes, Holiday is a better guard than Bledsoe; but do these two trades make Milwaukee a totally different team? Not so much. Holiday is a good choice for third-scorer and Milwaukee should think again if they want him to be the offensive solution for clutch time. Moreover, the team needs a first-class screen player, which Holiday is not, to activate Antetokounmpo's power in off-ball positions.

Of course, it's never easy (or possible) to land every player you need for a team. Antetokounmpo has his own work to do such as improving his court vision, positing up skills and shooting range. However, the Bucks at the moment are not much closer to the throne than they were last season.