The Los Angeles Clippers confirmed that their point guard Russell Westbrook suffered a hand fracture in Friday night’s 140-115 win over the Washington Wizards.

Westbrook injured his hand while trying to pick off Wizards’ Jordan Poole in the first half. He exited the game shortly after and didn’t return. According to The Athletic’s Law Murray, Westbrook is expected to miss several weeks and possibly won’t play again until April.

“(I) just feel bad for Russ right now,” Clippers’ coach Tyronn Lue told reporters during the post-game conference. “You never want to see a player get hurt. Jordan Poole drove around, and he tried to deflect from the back. I think he hit his elbow with his hand. We don’t know what timetable, don’t know if he needs surgery or anything yet, but he’s out right now. So just trying to figure it out.”

Entering the Wizards’ game, Westbrook was the only Clipper to play in every game in the 2023-24 season. The former NBA MVP established himself as a key contributor from the bench, averaging 11.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while also playing some of the best defense in his career.

The Clippers will definitely miss Westbrook and his energy as they try to stay in the race for the No.1 seed in the Western Conference. The LA team is currently sitting fourth in the standings with 3.0 games behind the leading Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Russell Westbrook is expected to take some time during the All-Star break to consider the next steps that he wants to take for his career, sources reported to ESPN on Saturday. The veteran was traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Utah Jazz on deadline day last week.

Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, general manager Justin Zanik, and coach Will Hardy spoke on Friday with Westbrook and his agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, stating that they welcome him into the team. They warned, however, that the team would be prioritizing playing its younger players and that no guarantees could be made with regard to Westbrook’s minutes or role in the team.

Among Westbrook’s options going forward would be a contract buyout on the remainder of his $47 million salary this season. This move would enable him to become a free agent, in which case he could sign for another team in the hope of securing more playing time. According to sources, the Chicago Bulls, LA Clippers, and Miami Heat are all options in this scenario.

By agreeing to a contract buyout by March 1, Westbrook can still be eligible to be part of a playoff roster if he chooses to go down this route. Westbrook could otherwise remain with the team and fight to earn his place in the starting lineup.

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The Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook got the 8,972nd assist of his career during his team’s 121-104 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night. As a result, he passed Gary Payton to go 10th on the NBA’s all-time assists chart.

“If somebody had told me 15 years ago, 20 years ago that you’d be top 10 in assists, I’d look at them like they was crazy,” Westbrook exclaimed after the game. “In the NBA, never dreamt of being in this position, nor getting to the point to where I’m next to some of the greats. I’m just truly grateful and thankful for an opportunity to keep playing at the highest level and I don’t take any of that for granted.”

Finishing the evening with 17 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds, Westbrook will be disappointed, however, that the Lakers slumped to a second straight loss. The Lakers went 24-27 after the defeat, putting them in 13th place on the Western Conference standings.

Coach Darvin Ham revealed that despite the loss, the team still made time to give Westbrook a round of applause after the game in recognition of his achievement.

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The “irreconcilable differences” have caused the Los Angeles Lakers’ star Russell Westbrook and his longtime agent Thad Foucher to go their separate ways. Foucher confirmed the news via a statement issued to ESPN on Friday.

In the statement, Foucher said that he believes Westbrook should play out the last year of his contract with the Lakers and embrace his role with the team. While he didn’t explicitly say Westbrook is unwilling to do this, he did state that the two disagree on the “best pathway forward,” hinting that the veteran guard might be thinking about leaving Los Angeles.

“With a possibility of a fourth trade in four years, the marketplace is telling the Lakers they must add additional value with Russell in any trade scenario. And even then, such a trade may require Russell to immediately move on from the new team via buyout,” Foucher explained. “My belief is that this type of transaction only serves to diminish Russell’s value, and his best option is to stay with the Lakers, embrace the starting role and support that Darvin Ham publicly offered.”

Russell Westbrook joined the Lakers ahead of 2021-22 as a missing piece for what the Lakers believed is a championship roster. However, Westbrook’s first year in LA was an utter disaster as the Lakers missed the playoffs, and he had his statistically worst season since his sophomore year in the NBA. Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game.

Westbrook’s struggles have made him a popular choice for trade speculations. It is believed that the Lakers attempted to move on from him at various points last season but were not willing to part ways with draft compensation as an incentive for a team to take his $47 million contract.

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Washington Wizards superstar Russell Westbrook is now the sole owner of the NBA’s All-Time triple-double record. Westbrook got his 182nd career triple-double on Monday night against Atlanta Hawks, surpassing Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson (181 triple-doubles).

Westbrook’s record-breaking moment came with less than nine minutes left in the Hawks game when he grabbed an uncontested rebound to get 10 for the night. He finished the contest, in which Washington lost 124-125, with 28 points, 21 assists, and 13 boards.

Previously, Westbrook became the first player since Robertson to average a triple-double in a regular season. He achieved the feat during an MVP season in 2016-17 when he also broke the record for most triple-doubles in a season with 42. The 32-year-old star would go on to average a triple-double two more times and is on track to do so in 2020-21 as well.

The closest players to Westbrook and Robertson in terms of triple-doubles are Magic Johnson with 138 and Jason Kidd with 107. The only other active player in the top five is LeBron James, who has 99 triple-doubles.

Speaking about his achievement, Westbrook called it “a blessing” and said that it’s an honor to be mentioned with the game’s greats like Robertson, Johnson, and Kidd.

“Normally I don’t like to pat myself on the back but tonight I will,” said Westbrook. “Just because I am so grateful for the ones before me and so blessed.”

Russell Westbrook’s record-breaking season wasn’t just for stats. His triple-doubles have helped Washington to turn around their season and get a chance to make the playoffs. The Wizards are currently No. 9 in the East and are set to appear in the play-in tournament.

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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. 

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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.

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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%).

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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 Los Angeles Clippers confirmed that their point guard Russell Westbrook suffered a hand fracture in Friday night’s 140-115 win over the Washington Wizards.

Westbrook injured his hand while trying to pick off Wizards’ Jordan Poole in the first half. He exited the game shortly after and didn’t return. According to The Athletic’s Law Murray, Westbrook is expected to miss several weeks and possibly won’t play again until April.

“(I) just feel bad for Russ right now,” Clippers’ coach Tyronn Lue told reporters during the post-game conference. “You never want to see a player get hurt. Jordan Poole drove around, and he tried to deflect from the back. I think he hit his elbow with his hand. We don’t know what timetable, don’t know if he needs surgery or anything yet, but he’s out right now. So just trying to figure it out.”

Entering the Wizards’ game, Westbrook was the only Clipper to play in every game in the 2023-24 season. The former NBA MVP established himself as a key contributor from the bench, averaging 11.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while also playing some of the best defense in his career.

The Clippers will definitely miss Westbrook and his energy as they try to stay in the race for the No.1 seed in the Western Conference. The LA team is currently sitting fourth in the standings with 3.0 games behind the leading Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Russell Westbrook is expected to take some time during the All-Star break to consider the next steps that he wants to take for his career, sources reported to ESPN on Saturday. The veteran was traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Utah Jazz on deadline day last week.

Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, general manager Justin Zanik, and coach Will Hardy spoke on Friday with Westbrook and his agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, stating that they welcome him into the team. They warned, however, that the team would be prioritizing playing its younger players and that no guarantees could be made with regard to Westbrook’s minutes or role in the team.

Among Westbrook’s options going forward would be a contract buyout on the remainder of his $47 million salary this season. This move would enable him to become a free agent, in which case he could sign for another team in the hope of securing more playing time. According to sources, the Chicago Bulls, LA Clippers, and Miami Heat are all options in this scenario.

By agreeing to a contract buyout by March 1, Westbrook can still be eligible to be part of a playoff roster if he chooses to go down this route. Westbrook could otherwise remain with the team and fight to earn his place in the starting lineup.

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The Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook got the 8,972nd assist of his career during his team’s 121-104 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night. As a result, he passed Gary Payton to go 10th on the NBA’s all-time assists chart.

“If somebody had told me 15 years ago, 20 years ago that you’d be top 10 in assists, I’d look at them like they was crazy,” Westbrook exclaimed after the game. “In the NBA, never dreamt of being in this position, nor getting to the point to where I’m next to some of the greats. I’m just truly grateful and thankful for an opportunity to keep playing at the highest level and I don’t take any of that for granted.”

Finishing the evening with 17 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds, Westbrook will be disappointed, however, that the Lakers slumped to a second straight loss. The Lakers went 24-27 after the defeat, putting them in 13th place on the Western Conference standings.

Coach Darvin Ham revealed that despite the loss, the team still made time to give Westbrook a round of applause after the game in recognition of his achievement.

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The “irreconcilable differences” have caused the Los Angeles Lakers’ star Russell Westbrook and his longtime agent Thad Foucher to go their separate ways. Foucher confirmed the news via a statement issued to ESPN on Friday.

In the statement, Foucher said that he believes Westbrook should play out the last year of his contract with the Lakers and embrace his role with the team. While he didn’t explicitly say Westbrook is unwilling to do this, he did state that the two disagree on the “best pathway forward,” hinting that the veteran guard might be thinking about leaving Los Angeles.

“With a possibility of a fourth trade in four years, the marketplace is telling the Lakers they must add additional value with Russell in any trade scenario. And even then, such a trade may require Russell to immediately move on from the new team via buyout,” Foucher explained. “My belief is that this type of transaction only serves to diminish Russell’s value, and his best option is to stay with the Lakers, embrace the starting role and support that Darvin Ham publicly offered.”

Russell Westbrook joined the Lakers ahead of 2021-22 as a missing piece for what the Lakers believed is a championship roster. However, Westbrook’s first year in LA was an utter disaster as the Lakers missed the playoffs, and he had his statistically worst season since his sophomore year in the NBA. Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game.

Westbrook’s struggles have made him a popular choice for trade speculations. It is believed that the Lakers attempted to move on from him at various points last season but were not willing to part ways with draft compensation as an incentive for a team to take his $47 million contract.

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Washington Wizards superstar Russell Westbrook is now the sole owner of the NBA’s All-Time triple-double record. Westbrook got his 182nd career triple-double on Monday night against Atlanta Hawks, surpassing Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson (181 triple-doubles).

Westbrook’s record-breaking moment came with less than nine minutes left in the Hawks game when he grabbed an uncontested rebound to get 10 for the night. He finished the contest, in which Washington lost 124-125, with 28 points, 21 assists, and 13 boards.

Previously, Westbrook became the first player since Robertson to average a triple-double in a regular season. He achieved the feat during an MVP season in 2016-17 when he also broke the record for most triple-doubles in a season with 42. The 32-year-old star would go on to average a triple-double two more times and is on track to do so in 2020-21 as well.

The closest players to Westbrook and Robertson in terms of triple-doubles are Magic Johnson with 138 and Jason Kidd with 107. The only other active player in the top five is LeBron James, who has 99 triple-doubles.

Speaking about his achievement, Westbrook called it “a blessing” and said that it’s an honor to be mentioned with the game’s greats like Robertson, Johnson, and Kidd.

“Normally I don’t like to pat myself on the back but tonight I will,” said Westbrook. “Just because I am so grateful for the ones before me and so blessed.”

Russell Westbrook’s record-breaking season wasn’t just for stats. His triple-doubles have helped Washington to turn around their season and get a chance to make the playoffs. The Wizards are currently No. 9 in the East and are set to appear in the play-in tournament.

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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. 

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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.

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.

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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%).

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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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