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Russell Westbrook traded to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul, future picks

By Quinn Allen

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 14: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket on Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of the game at the Moda Center on April 14, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 104-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 14: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket on Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of the game at the Moda Center on April 14, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 104-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Russell Westbrook is set for a reunion with James Harden, who he played with from 2009-12 in OKC

After all the speculation in the last few days about the OKC Thunder being open to trading Russell Westbrook, they have finally found a destination for the 30-year-old point guard.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Thunder have agreed to trade Westbrook to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Chris Paul, first round picks in 2024 and 2026, and pick swaps in 2021 and 2025.

Westbrook spent his entire 11-year career to this point in Oklahoma City, leading them to the playoffs nine of the eleven years he played for the organization. He averaged 22.9 points, 10.7 assists, and 11.1 rebounds last year as the Thunder were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Portland Trail Blazers.

The 2018-19 season was his third consecutive season averaging a triple-double; the first player to ever do so in NBA history.

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It was reported just a number of weeks back that there was some serious tension between James Harden and Chris Paul, claiming that the two barely even spoke towards the end of the season as the Rockets were knocked out by the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals.

According to Woj, OKC GM Sam Presti worked with Westbrook and his agent to get him to his preferred destination of Houston, where he can once again play with his good friend James Harden.

Paul averaged just 15.6 points last season, the worst scoring average of his 14-year career. He will be the centerpiece in OKC, who are definitely going into full rebuild mode now that Westbrook and Paul George are gone.

They have acquired a bevy of first-round picks through free agency to this point though; eight of them through 2026, and four pick swaps as a result of the George and Paul deals.

There were speculations that Westbrook might be a good fit alongside Jimmy Butler in Miami, but Houston was the quickest team to complete a deal for Westbrook. The eight-time NBA All-Star has four years left on his contract. It should be very fun to watch Harden and Westbrook play together once again in the backcourt for the Rockets.

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As for OKC, they will look to build through the draft for the next number of years.

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