The Houston Rockets have granted All-Star guard Russell Westbrook his wish to leave the organization. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets traded Westbrook to the Washington Wizards in exchange for guard John Wall and a protected first-round pick.

The move comes just days after Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard told the media that the franchise doesn’t intend to trade Wall.

Wojnarowski added that the pick included in the trade has several protections through 2026, and if it doesn’t convey, the Rockets are set to receive a second-rounder in 2026 and 2027.

While the Westbrook-Wall swap might come surprising to some, the trade wasn’t entirely unexpected. The Wizards and Rockets engaged in talks several weeks ago, when it became clear that Westbrook wanted out but couldn’t come to an agreement at the time.

Reportedly, Sheppard and Rockets’ GM Rafael Stone resumed negotiations on Tuesday, and this time it was a lot more straightforward talk that concluded on a positive note.

Westbrook joined the Rockets before the 2019-20 season, teaming up with his former OKC Thunder teammate James Harden. However, his time in Houston was marked with injury struggles and the team’s inability to make an impact in the offseason.

Westbrook reportedly didn’t enjoy his time with the organization at all and concluded that he would have been better off elsewhere. He averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game in the regular season but only managed 17.9 points and 4.6 assists in the playoffs.

In Washington, Westbrook will team up with All-Star guard Bradley Beal, while also having his former Thunder coach Scott Brooks on board.

For John Wall, the move to the Rockets represents a chance for a fresh start after two years of injury struggles. Wall played his last game in late 2018 and failed to return to the court since, having dealt with a heal injury and a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The deal might end up working for both the Wizards and Rockets. The Wizards now have a team that can contend in the Eastern Conference, and bringing in Westbrook might convince Beal to commit his future to the franchise.

Rockets, on the other hand, get a player who wants to play in Houston, and this could help them in the long-term if he leaves the injury issues behind. 

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It isn’t a secret that All-Star guard Russell Westbrook wants out of Houston Rockets. Numerous reports have indicated that Westbrook isn’t happy with the direction the organization is headed after parting ways with general manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D’Antoni and would like to continue his career elsewhere.

Several destinations for the 2017’s MVP have been mentioned in recent weeks, including LA Clippers and New York Knicks, but according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, an unexpected contender entered the Westbrook sweepstakes in the past couple of days.

Charania reported on Tuesday that Washington Wizards have shown interest in Westbrook and have already engaged in talks with the Rockets about a potential deal that would see John Wall head in the opposite direction. He also points out that the talks haven’t gained significant traction so far as Houston wants more assets included besides Wall. 

The assets that Rockets ask for are most likely draft picks as there is no need to include another player in the deal to have a salary match. Both Wall and Westbrook are on similar contracts, being scheduled to earn around $132 million in the next three years.

The deal would make sense for the Wizards as they are looking to build around All-Star Bradley Beal and get back to contention after a couple of rough years. While John Wall was once among the most electrifying players in the game, injuries have greatly diminished his impact in recent years. Washington now probably believes he won’t be able to return to being the player he once was.

Russell Westbrook, on the other hand, is still considered to be among the best players in his position despite his shortcomings in the shooting department. Pairing him with Beal and another talent like sharpshooter Davis Bertans would almost guarantee Wizards a playoff spot and probably even a chance to make a deep playoff run.

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After missing out on superstar players in recent years, the New York Knicks are ready to attempt to land one again this offseason. According to SNY’s Ian Begley, one of their potential targets is Houston Rockets’ All-Star guard Russell Westbrook.

With head coach Mike D’Antoni gone, the Rockets look like they are set to make some other big changes this offseason. The chatter around the league is that this could include a roster overhaul, in which case Westbrook would be made available.

If this turns out to be the case, the Knicks will explore making a move for the 2017’s NBA MVP as they look to get back to contention. Begley adds that Westbrook himself would likely not be opposed to the move, considering that he had New York on his list of preferred destinations when Oklahoma City Thunders decided to trade him last year.

Despite the rumors, the chances of Houston moving Russell Westbrook remain slim. Although the 31-year-old guard had a slow start in 2019/20, he finished the shortened regular season on a high note and took over as the team’s most dominant force on the offense. Westbrook averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists.

The only possible reason for the Rockets to move Westbrook would be his huge contract. The team is currently maxed-out cap-wise, and getting off his remaining three-year, $132 million deal would allow them bigger flexibility in retooling their squad in order to continue building around James Harden.

The post Knicks Would Consider trading for Russell Westbrook if He’s Available appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Houston Rockets’ NBA title hopes received a tough blow on Thursday. According to ESPN, Rockets’ All-Star guard Russell Westbrook is dealing with quad muscle strain and is set to miss the start of the playoffs.

Reportedly, Westbrook’s availability for the playoffs will depend on how well he responds to the treatment, but he’ll miss at least the “first few games.” Rockets will begin their postseason next week when they face Westbrook’s former team Oklahoma City Thunder.

Westbrook last played on Tuesday against San Antonio Spurs after missing Houston’s previous two games due to quad contusion. On Wednesday, however, he felt soreness in his right quad and underwent an MRI which ended up showing the strain.

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said after Wednesday’s loss to Indiana Pacers that the team will have more clarity on the injury next week.

“We’ll see how he responds,” said D’Antoni. “We’ll just see next week.”

Russell Westbrook arrived to Houston last summer in a blockbuster trade that saw Chris Paul and par of picks head to Oklahoma City. Westbrook has been enjoying the productive season with Rockets so far, averaging 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game while enjoying career-best field goal percentage (47.2%).

The post Rockets will Be Without All-Star Russell Westbrook to Start the Playoffs appeared first on SportzBonanza.

All-star guard Russell Westbrook finally joined his Houston Rockets ahead of the NBA season restart. Westbrook, who previously missed the team’s flight to Orlando after testing positive on coronavirus, arrived in the NBA bubble on Monday.

Westbrook revealed last week on social media that he tested positive but said that he is “feeling well” while being in quarantine. It appears that the 31-year-old guard is now cleared, as he had to produce two negative tests before entering the bubble. However, he will have to be in quarantine for two days before being allowed to join his team’s practices.

Speaking with the media on Monday, Rockets’ head coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters that Westbrook wouldn’t be part of the team’s roster for the first exhibition game due to his late arrival. But, D’Antoni expects him to play in the remaining two scrimmages. 

“I do expect that once he clears everything that he’ll be ready to go 5-on-5 and all that,” said D’Antoni. “I would think Friday might be a little early. That’ll be up to the medical staff and Russell himself and see how he feels in the days before. Hopefully, he’ll get in a couple of scrimmages and then be ready for us to play.”

Westbrook is in his first season with Rockets, after joining the team in the summer via trade with Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 27.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.

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The Houston Rockets have granted All-Star guard Russell Westbrook his wish to leave the organization. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets traded Westbrook to the Washington Wizards in exchange for guard John Wall and a protected first-round pick.

The move comes just days after Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard told the media that the franchise doesn’t intend to trade Wall.

Wojnarowski added that the pick included in the trade has several protections through 2026, and if it doesn’t convey, the Rockets are set to receive a second-rounder in 2026 and 2027.

While the Westbrook-Wall swap might come surprising to some, the trade wasn’t entirely unexpected. The Wizards and Rockets engaged in talks several weeks ago, when it became clear that Westbrook wanted out but couldn’t come to an agreement at the time.

Reportedly, Sheppard and Rockets’ GM Rafael Stone resumed negotiations on Tuesday, and this time it was a lot more straightforward talk that concluded on a positive note.

Westbrook joined the Rockets before the 2019-20 season, teaming up with his former OKC Thunder teammate James Harden. However, his time in Houston was marked with injury struggles and the team’s inability to make an impact in the offseason.

Westbrook reportedly didn’t enjoy his time with the organization at all and concluded that he would have been better off elsewhere. He averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game in the regular season but only managed 17.9 points and 4.6 assists in the playoffs.

In Washington, Westbrook will team up with All-Star guard Bradley Beal, while also having his former Thunder coach Scott Brooks on board.

For John Wall, the move to the Rockets represents a chance for a fresh start after two years of injury struggles. Wall played his last game in late 2018 and failed to return to the court since, having dealt with a heal injury and a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The deal might end up working for both the Wizards and Rockets. The Wizards now have a team that can contend in the Eastern Conference, and bringing in Westbrook might convince Beal to commit his future to the franchise.

Rockets, on the other hand, get a player who wants to play in Houston, and this could help them in the long-term if he leaves the injury issues behind. 

The post Rockets Trade Russell Westbrook to Wizards for John Wall appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It isn’t a secret that All-Star guard Russell Westbrook wants out of Houston Rockets. Numerous reports have indicated that Westbrook isn’t happy with the direction the organization is headed after parting ways with general manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D’Antoni and would like to continue his career elsewhere.

Several destinations for the 2017’s MVP have been mentioned in recent weeks, including LA Clippers and New York Knicks, but according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, an unexpected contender entered the Westbrook sweepstakes in the past couple of days.

Charania reported on Tuesday that Washington Wizards have shown interest in Westbrook and have already engaged in talks with the Rockets about a potential deal that would see John Wall head in the opposite direction. He also points out that the talks haven’t gained significant traction so far as Houston wants more assets included besides Wall. 

The assets that Rockets ask for are most likely draft picks as there is no need to include another player in the deal to have a salary match. Both Wall and Westbrook are on similar contracts, being scheduled to earn around $132 million in the next three years.

The deal would make sense for the Wizards as they are looking to build around All-Star Bradley Beal and get back to contention after a couple of rough years. While John Wall was once among the most electrifying players in the game, injuries have greatly diminished his impact in recent years. Washington now probably believes he won’t be able to return to being the player he once was.

Russell Westbrook, on the other hand, is still considered to be among the best players in his position despite his shortcomings in the shooting department. Pairing him with Beal and another talent like sharpshooter Davis Bertans would almost guarantee Wizards a playoff spot and probably even a chance to make a deep playoff run.

The post Rockets and Wizards Talk About Swapping Russell Westbrook and John Wall appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After missing out on superstar players in recent years, the New York Knicks are ready to attempt to land one again this offseason. According to SNY’s Ian Begley, one of their potential targets is Houston Rockets’ All-Star guard Russell Westbrook.

With head coach Mike D’Antoni gone, the Rockets look like they are set to make some other big changes this offseason. The chatter around the league is that this could include a roster overhaul, in which case Westbrook would be made available.

If this turns out to be the case, the Knicks will explore making a move for the 2017’s NBA MVP as they look to get back to contention. Begley adds that Westbrook himself would likely not be opposed to the move, considering that he had New York on his list of preferred destinations when Oklahoma City Thunders decided to trade him last year.

Despite the rumors, the chances of Houston moving Russell Westbrook remain slim. Although the 31-year-old guard had a slow start in 2019/20, he finished the shortened regular season on a high note and took over as the team’s most dominant force on the offense. Westbrook averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists.

The only possible reason for the Rockets to move Westbrook would be his huge contract. The team is currently maxed-out cap-wise, and getting off his remaining three-year, $132 million deal would allow them bigger flexibility in retooling their squad in order to continue building around James Harden.

The post Knicks Would Consider trading for Russell Westbrook if He’s Available appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Houston Rockets’ NBA title hopes received a tough blow on Thursday. According to ESPN, Rockets’ All-Star guard Russell Westbrook is dealing with quad muscle strain and is set to miss the start of the playoffs.

Reportedly, Westbrook’s availability for the playoffs will depend on how well he responds to the treatment, but he’ll miss at least the “first few games.” Rockets will begin their postseason next week when they face Westbrook’s former team Oklahoma City Thunder.

Westbrook last played on Tuesday against San Antonio Spurs after missing Houston’s previous two games due to quad contusion. On Wednesday, however, he felt soreness in his right quad and underwent an MRI which ended up showing the strain.

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said after Wednesday’s loss to Indiana Pacers that the team will have more clarity on the injury next week.

“We’ll see how he responds,” said D’Antoni. “We’ll just see next week.”

Russell Westbrook arrived to Houston last summer in a blockbuster trade that saw Chris Paul and par of picks head to Oklahoma City. Westbrook has been enjoying the productive season with Rockets so far, averaging 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game while enjoying career-best field goal percentage (47.2%).

The post Rockets will Be Without All-Star Russell Westbrook to Start the Playoffs appeared first on SportzBonanza.

All-star guard Russell Westbrook finally joined his Houston Rockets ahead of the NBA season restart. Westbrook, who previously missed the team’s flight to Orlando after testing positive on coronavirus, arrived in the NBA bubble on Monday.

Westbrook revealed last week on social media that he tested positive but said that he is “feeling well” while being in quarantine. It appears that the 31-year-old guard is now cleared, as he had to produce two negative tests before entering the bubble. However, he will have to be in quarantine for two days before being allowed to join his team’s practices.

Speaking with the media on Monday, Rockets’ head coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters that Westbrook wouldn’t be part of the team’s roster for the first exhibition game due to his late arrival. But, D’Antoni expects him to play in the remaining two scrimmages. 

“I do expect that once he clears everything that he’ll be ready to go 5-on-5 and all that,” said D’Antoni. “I would think Friday might be a little early. That’ll be up to the medical staff and Russell himself and see how he feels in the days before. Hopefully, he’ll get in a couple of scrimmages and then be ready for us to play.”

Westbrook is in his first season with Rockets, after joining the team in the summer via trade with Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 27.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.

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