Westbrook Gets Wish, Wall Could Convince Harden To Stay In Houston

Russell Westbrook and John Wall will be suiting up for new teams this 2020-21 NBA season after the Houston Rockets and the Washington Wizards finalized a trade between the two All-Star guards. The Wizards will also send a future first-round pick as part of the deal.

Per sources, the deal finally came to fruition when the general managers of both clubs sat down to discuss the Westbrook-Wall swap. The deal was reportedly sealed within hours.

Further, the Rockets got something equally precious with the club entering another rebuilding phase. The pick included in the deal was a lottery-protected selection in 2023.

However, ESPN reported that if the selection is not conveyed, it has a succession of protections that include picks Nos. 1-12 in 2024, picks 1-10 in 2025 and picks 1-8 in 2026. After that period, it will become a second-round pick in 2026 and 2027.

With Wall in tow, it will be interesting if he can convince James Harden to stay on in Houston. Harden was offered a deal that would have made him the first player in the NBA to earn $50 million per season. The former NBA MVP thumbed down that deal with word going around that he wanted to move to the Brooklyn Nets.

As mentioned in a previous post, Kevin Durant denied having talked with Harden and encouraging him to move to the Nets.

Regardless, the Rockets are standing firm on keeping Harden. They do not foresee the eight-time All-Star going anywhere before the season starts on Dec. 22.

Harden and Wall played pickup games together last month alongside Michael Beasley, Andre Drummond and P.J. Tucker, ESPN tweeted. Wall seemed ready to go for the coming season although it was not mentioned if this had any bearing on the recent trade deal between the Rockets and the Wizards.

As for Westbrook, his arrival in Washington reunites him with former coach Scott Brooks. Both were together with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2008 to 2015). Hence, if there is a coach who knows how to maximize the 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player, it would be the 55-year-old mentor.