The Rockets traded two protected first-round picks and two protected first-round swaps for Russell Westbrook, hoping that would be a significant upgrade over an aging Chris Paul whose relationship with James Harden deteriorated last season.
Through 31 games played, the Houston Rockets have got out to a 21-10 record, good for 4th in the Western Conference. That is a significant jump from there 16-15 record through 31 games last season.
Despite Houston playing better record wise, the team has performed better when James Harden plays without Westbrook than when Harden plays with Westbrook.
Ryen Russillo of the Ringer seems to think that Westbrook could be on the trading block if the team thinks it can get back some nice assets.
“I think Westbrook is available. We can talk about semantics Of course, Daryl Morey would trade anyone if he thought it made his team better. Of course, he would trade Westbrook if he could get off of that long-term money, if he thought the assets, the sum of the parts was better than having somebody that’s considered a top-10 player.”
“Is Daryl Morey actively calling people, saying, “Hey, I’ve got to dump Westbrook?” Well, of course, he wouldn’t do it that way. But there are people who believe Westbrook is available and that Daryl knows, “I’ve got to figure something out here.”
“I’m sure people will deny this after they hear it on the podcast. I don’t care.”
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Morey has shown that he would trade anyone at anytime if it could improve the team, but finding a trade partner for a 31-year-old Westbrook that is earning $38,506,482 this season and due $132,633,438 over the next three years would prove to be very difficult.
Harden wanted Westbrook in Houston and a trade of one of his best friends might cause an even bigger issue that might have him wanting of Houston.
There’s no way Daryl Morey and the Houston Rockets give up on this experiment just 31 games in. Although, it did take just 13 games for the team to end the Carmelo Anthony tenure just last season.
