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Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press
So much for Russell Westbrook and James Harden who team up in Houston to win the championship that eluded them in Oklahoma City.
The Houston Rockets have reportedly agreed to trade Westbrook for the Washington Wizards on Wednesday in exchange for John Wall and a future first-round pick, according to ESPN. Adrian Wojnarowski.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium explained the protections for the draft:
It comes after Jonathan figs of Houston Chronicle reported that Westbrook wanted to go somewhere else so he could “be himself” on the floor. Charaniah reported that Houston was in talks with the Wizards over a potential Westbrook-Wall swap last month, but “was looking for more assets.”
Wojnarowski provided a schedule for the discussions:
Westbrook’s experience didn’t last long in Houston despite the large number of assets the Rockets sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder in their July 2019 trade. negotiated Chris Paul, first-round pick in 2024 and 2026 and the right to trade early players in 2021 and 2025 for the All-Star then eight times.
This trade meant Westbrook and Harden were together again after playing side-by-side with the Thunder from 2009-10 to 2011-12. However, their roles were very different this time around.
In OKC, Westbrook was an established star and a go-to option with Kevin Durant earlier in his career, while Harden was a secondary playmaker who anchored the bench. Harden is now one of the league’s best players and an annual MVP contender, so Westbrook has had to adjust to play alongside him on the Rockets.
That adjustment period ended in a trade, and Washington now has one of the best playmakers of his generation who is still chasing his first championship. Westbrook won the 2016-17 MVP, is a two-time assist and two-time goal champion, has been named to nine All-NBA teams and is a triple-double threat every time he walks on the floor.
He averages 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.6 steals in his first season with the Rockets after averaging a triple-double in each of his last three seasons with the Thunder.
There are concerns about Westbrook’s lackluster three-point shot, his tendency to dribble the ball too much in isolation, and the impact of aging on his uncompromising style of play, but the Wizards now have someone who can pick up a match anytime. they look to a potential run in the playoffs.
Washington has missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons with Wall being sidelined with various injuries. Those setbacks put too much of a burden on Bradley Beal to carry an otherwise lackluster roster, and the result was a dip in the Eastern Conference standings.
The addition of Westbrook gives the Wizards another star playmaker who can help fill the void left when Wall was injured and return them to post-season relevance.
As for Houston, its new point guard asks yet another question in an offseason of uncertainty.
He has already separated from General manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D’Antoni traded Robert Covinigton and signed Demarcus Cousins. Additionally, Wojnarowski reported that Harden is “singularly focused on an exchange with the Brooklyn Nets. “
The squad will be very different in 2020-2021, especially if Harden is traded. If Wall can return to the form he has demonstrated as a five-time All-Star, 2016-17 All-NBA selection and 2014-15 All-Defensive selection before injury issues, that will go a long way in determining whether the Rockets can compete. in the dreaded Western Conference.
That’s quite a gamble, although adding the draw compensation will help cushion the blow of losing Westbrook.
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