In a NBA blockbuster deal on Wednesday night according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Houston Rockets acquired point guard John Wall of Raleigh, North Carolina, and a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, for Russell Westbrook of Long Beach, California. The trade features a nine-time all-star in Westbrook and a five-time all-star in Wall.
There is no doubt that Wall and Westbrook did not seem comfortable where they were at. According to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN, Westbrook was not getting along with the Rockets’ other star player in James Harden. Wall meanwhile asked for a trade on November 20 according to Rogers Sportsnet, despite being the fourth highest-paid player in the NBA.
Westbrook will be joining his third NBA team, and will be playing in his third different NBA team in three seasons. After 11 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he was traded to the Rockets for Chris Paul on July 16, 2019.
In 2019-20, Westbrook averaged 27.2 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game, and 7.0 assists per game. He also had a field goal percentage of .472, three-point percentage of .258, and a free throw percentage of .763. Twice with the Thunder Westbrook led the NBA in points per game (31.6 in 2016-17, and 28.1 in 2014-15), and two other seasons, he led the NBA in assists per game (10.3 in 2017-18, and 10.7 in 2018-19).
Wall meanwhile did not play in 2019-20 because of numerous injuries. In 2018-19, he averaged 20.7 points per game, 8.7 assists per game, and 3.6 rebounds per game with Washington.
At the start of their NBA career, Wall and Westbrook were both drafted in the top five. Wall was in fact selected first overall in the 2010 NBA Draft, and Westbrook was selected fourth in the 2008 NBA Draft.
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