Rockets’ Russell Westbrook Traded to Wizards for John Wall

“The decision to part ways with John, one of the greatest players in franchise history, was extremely difficult,” Wizards General Manager Tommy Sheppard said in a statement. “What he has meant to our organization and our community is immeasurable and will not be forgotten.”

The trade reunites Westbrook, nine times an All-Star, and his former Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks in Washington. Brooks, now the Wizards’ coach, has been a strong advocate for a Westbrook deal despite the limited trade market Houston had found for Westbrook, the N.B.A.’s 2016-17 Most Valuable Player Award winner.

Wall, a five-time All-Star who had spent his whole 10-season career with the Wizards, reunites in Houston with DeMarcus Cousins, his former college teammate at Kentucky and a close friend. The Rockets signed Cousins this week to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract in hopes that Cousins, 30, a four-time All-Star, can recover from the Achilles’ tendon and knee injuries that have plagued him for the past two years.

Both Westbrook, 32, and Wall, 30, have three seasons left on their contracts worth slightly more than $130 million.

The Rockets acquired Westbrook from Oklahoma City in July 2019 in a trade that cost Houston the veteran guard Chris Paul, two future first-round draft picks and the right to swap two additional first-round picks. Westbrook averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists as a Rocket, but the pairing with Harden fizzled in the playoffs.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/sports/basketball/russell-westbrook-john-wall-trade.html