Russell Westbrook Traded to Rockets for Chris Paul, Draft Picks
In a blockbuster move first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowksi, the Oklahoma City Thunder have traded Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Chris Paul and another haul of first round draft picks.
“The Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed to a blockbuster trade to send Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets to reunite him with James Harden, league sources told ESPN.
The Rockets will send guard Chris Paul, two protected first-round picks (2024 and 2026) and two pick swaps (2021 and 2025) to the Thunder, league sources told ESPN.”Adrian Wojnarowski / ESPN
For clarification on the picks:
After sending Paul George to the Clippers and Jerami Grant to the Nuggets less than a week ago, Sam Presti has accumulated eight future first round picks — jump starting the re-build by sending his superstar duo to separate Western Conference rivals. Both George and Westbrook again find themselves part of marquee duos; George with Kawhi Leonard, and Westbrook being re-united with former Thunder teammate James Harden.
As for Oklahoma City, Paul’s future in blue will remain in question. Sam Amick of USA Today reported the Thunder intend to keep the 9-time All-Star, with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne suggesting the franchise will work with Paul to decide what’s best for his career moving forward.
In any case, the Westbrook era is officially done in Oklahoma City — something that is guaranteed to take some getting used to.