WindyBOMB: Rockets trying to acquire Russell Westbrook via 3-team trade

[LoneyROY7]

Hoop Central
@TheHoopCentral
The Houston Rockets are trying to acquire Russell Westbrook through a 3-Team Trade, per @WindhorstESPN.
2,751
1:40 PM - Jul 11, 2019

https://media.giphy.com/media/xTiN0zBMTVQKDC5IqI/giphy.gif

[brooks_thompson]

Rockets try to acquire any star who becomes available. That's Morey's main MO, always has been.

[Bosnian Sajo]

Better fit than CP3 :confusedshrug:

[jayfan]

Harden & Westbrook on the same team?


:lol



.

[ROCSteady]

So is CP 3’s career going to die in the land of the red men?

[GOBB]

Harden and Westbrook would be amazing on 2k. Not so much in the nba

[RealSkipBayless]

Houston so desperate to squeeze out any win now asset they can. They just can

[LoneyROY7]

Harden and Russ both attacking the paint would be a PROBLEM for opposing defenses.

However, Russ shooting Rockets-volume 3s could be a problem for Houston. :lol

I'm for it though. F*ck it.

[Smoke117]

Better fit than CP3 :confusedshrug:

How is that a better fit than CP3? Paul can at least be used off the ball because he could shoot and he is a far superior defensive player than Westbrook is. Neither Russell nor Harden can play off the ball and Russell is actually a negative off the ball as he can't even stretch the floor since he's an awful shooter. He'd just be left wide open on the perimeter while his man clogs the middle.

[GOBB]

Houston role players be like tomato tomatoe we are used to two guys shooting a lot.

[Smook A.]

I don't like this at all

[Bosnian Sajo]

How is that a better fit than CP3? Paul can at least be used off the ball because he could shoot and he is a far superior defensive player than Westbrook is. Neither Russell nor Harden can play off the ball and Russell is actually a negative off the ball as he can't even stretch the floor since he's an awful shooter. He'd just be left wide open on the perimeter while his man clogs the middle.


Because Westbrook and Harden are boys and have coexisted before. Not saying they will win a title, but it'll absolutely be fun to watch.


Of course they need a big man. Either Capela stays or Adams goes with Russ to Houston.



Also...Paul a good defender? At this age?

[LoneyROY7]

I don't like this at all

:confusedshrug:

I mean I would definitely prefer them going after a defensive wing like Covington, who appears to be available...but IDK what the f*ck Morey is doing.

[coin24]

Morey is a moron

[jayfan]

Harden and Russ both attacking the paint would be a PROBLEM for opposing defenses.

However, Russ shooting Rockets-volume 3s could be a problem for Houston. :lol

I'm for it though. F*ck it.

Come on, man. Think this through. It would be a complete & utter train wreck. There's not enough room on the court for the both of them.

Not enough balls, not enough shots, not enough usage, not enough playoff chokes....

It would be entertaining as hell for everyone except Rockets fans.

.

[Smoke117]

Because Westbrook and Harden are boys and have coexisted before. Not saying they will win a title, but it'll absolutely be fun to watch.


Of course they need a big man. Either Capela stays or Adams goes with Russ to Houston.



Also...Paul a good defender? At this age?

He led all pg's in DRPM with a 2.27 this past season. Did you even watch the Rockets? You don't even need advanced stats to see how good of a defender he is. The eye test gives you that by itself. In comparsion, though, Westbrook was a -0.08. I remember I read something about Westbrook for the 2018 season how he was in the bottom 5 for contested 3pters in the ENTIRE LEAGUE. Yes, this is taking into account centers. Rudy Gobert contested on more 3pters than he did.

[LoneyROY7]

Come on, man. Think this through. It would be a complete & utter train wreck. There's not enough room on the court for the both of them.

Not enough balls, not enough shots, not enough usage, not enough playoff chokes....

It would be entertaining as hell for everyone except Rockets fans.

.

I like drama. What can I say? :oldlol: :oldlol:

[RealSkipBayless]

I like drama. What can I say? :oldlol: :oldlol:
Harden off-ball: Disinterested

Westbrook off-ball: Useless

I

[Smoke117]

Harden off-ball: Disinterested

Westbrook off-ball: Useless

I’d love to see it as well. :oldlol:

The only way it could work is if Harden actually became active. All he ever did with Paul the last two years is just stand around. He could have been making cuts to the basket, setting screens etc, but all he was interested it was standing around waiting for the ball to come back to him. Harden you have to at least stay on, though since he can shoot. Russell wouldn't just be useless, but a negative. No one is going to defend him out there on the perimeter off the ball.

[Bosnian Sajo]

He led all pg's in DRPM with a 2.27 this past season. Did you even watch the Rockets? You don't even need advanced stats to see how good of a defender is. The eye test gives you that by itself. In comparsion, though, Westbrook was a -0.08.


And Isaac Bonga was ranked #14th for PG's, please keep your defensive stats.


The 3 pg's that earned 1st and 2nd team all defense this past season were ranked 8th, 9th, and 10th.


I mean truly, I don't give a **** about defensive advanced stats lol. And no I did not watch the Rockets, other than the 2-3 times we faced em. So yes, I very well could be wrong, maybe CP3 hasn't regressed as much as I believe he has.

[NBAGOAT]

play harden and westbrook 30 min each but only 12 min together haha during the rs. A your turn my turn iso offense isnt as terrible in the playoffs when every team isos more and a lot of lesser options dont do nearly as much as they did during the rs. westbrooks gotta go back to being like a 33%+ from 3 and 40%+ from midrange guy however

[Bosnian Sajo]

play harden and westbrook 30 min each but only 12 min together. A your turn my turn iso offense isnt as terrible in the playoffs when every team isos more and a lot of lesser options dont do nearly as much as they did during the rs. westbrooks gotta go back to being like a 33%+ from 3 and 40%+ from midrange guy however



First 6 minutes of the game to start together and last 6 minutes to finish together.

[Smoke117]

And Isaac Bonga was ranked #14th for PG's, please keep your defensive stats.


The 3 pg's that earned 1st and 2nd team all defense this past season were ranked 8th, 9th, and 10th.


I mean truly, I don't give a **** about defensive advanced stats lol. And no I did not watch the Rockets, other than the 2-3 times we faced em. So yes, I very well could be wrong, maybe CP3 hasn't regressed as much as I believe he has.

That doesn't mean anything. Paul didn't make a team because he only played 58 games. He's still a world class defensive player. That's a fact. Not an opinion.

[Basketbolero]

This would be so entertaining. I could see it working but with D'Antoni? Doubt it.

Still, Rockers are already stuck with a huge contract so moving from CP3 to Westbrook would make some sense financially.

[Phoenix]

Because Westbrook and Harden are boys and have coexisted before. Not saying they will win a title, but it'll absolutely be fun to watch.


Of course they need a big man. Either Capela stays or Adams goes with Russ to Houston.



Also...Paul a good defender? At this age?

They coexisted when Harden was coming off the bench as a supersub. He's been 'the man' now for 7 years. He and Russ both NEED the ball to be effective. Neither play off the ball, Harden uses the dribble to get his shooting rhythm so what's Russ gonna be doing? Spotting up in a corner?

Oh it will be 'interesting', in the same way as watching a train fly off the tracks, but you couldn't pair two more incompatible skillsets if you tried.

[Kblaze8855]

Come on, man. Think this through. It would be a complete & utter train wreck. There's not enough room on the court for the both of them.

Not enough balls, not enough shots, not enough usage, not enough playoff chokes....

It would be entertaining as hell for everyone except Rockets fans.

.

They just lost in the second round and 3 average teams in their conference became contenders while only one contender took a step back. Those facts considered how would you define a train wreck? They didn’t do shit that really mattered last year. Losing a round earlier wouldn’t really matter either and that’s really about the worst that could happen. The west got better around them. If they do nothing it’s entirely possible they take a step back.

Would being a 47 win nine seed be a train wreck to you?

[superduper]

Wait I think Bran needs more halp right?

[Bosnian Sajo]

That doesn't mean anything. Paul didn't make a team because he only played 58 games. He's still a world class defensive player. That's a fact. Not an opinion.


I know that he WAS, that's a fact. I just thought he slowed down given his age and the amount on injuries he has gone through.


Fair enough, if you claim he's still a monster defensively, so be it. I'll keep my eye out this upcoming season.


IMO, Jrue Holiday is the best defensive point guard in the NBA at the moment.

[sdot_thadon]

Well the Rockets feel like they have to do something. I'm not sure how this is gonna go but I'm for it if we're swapping a "stick a fork in him" Cp3 for a prime Westbrook. They are good friends already and it seems like its easier to coexist way.

[Smoke117]

I know that he WAS, that's a fact. I just thought he slowed down given his age and the amount on injuries he has gone through.


Fair enough, if you claim he's still a monster defensively, so be it. I'll keep my eye out this upcoming season.


IMO, Jrue Holiday is the best defensive point guard in the NBA at the moment.

I'm not being biased. I freely admit it that he regressed offensively this season, but defensively he was the same high BBIQ ball hawk he's always been. People make too much of his regression, though. Up until this season he'd been a top 5-10 player in the league basically his entire career. It's not like he's fallen off the map completely. He was still a top 25 player in the league this past season. The way some people talk you'd think he's useless now.

[Bosnian Sajo]

I'm not being biased. I freely admit it that he regressed offensively this season, but defensively he was the same high BBIQ ball hawk he's always been.

I'm not claiming you're being biased lol.

[BlakFrankWhite]

Wait I think Bran needs more halp right?

??

Fck off.

[jayfan]

They just lost in the second round and 3 average teams in their conference became contenders while only one contender took a step back. Those facts considered how would you define a train wreck? They didn’t do shit that really mattered last year. Losing a round earlier wouldn’t really matter either and that’s really about the worst that could happen. The west got better around them. If they do nothing it’s entirely possible they take a step back.

Would being a 47 win nine seed be a train wreck to you?

Of course, for a team paying those salaries.

Taking on a 3 yr, $40+ million per obligation & failing to make it out of the 2nd round would be a train wreck. Absolutely.

But beyond that, just the optic of those two guys playing together is a train wreck.

[Spurs m8]

Because Westbrook and Harden are boys and have coexisted before. Not saying they will win a title, but it'll absolutely be fun to watch.


Of course they need a big man. Either Capela stays or Adams goes with Russ to Houston.



Also...Paul a good defender? At this age?

Hahahhahha harden fun to watch?
Okay champ....you may as well retire from basketball.

Rockets fun to watch.? Just quit already :roll: :roll: :roll:

[GOBB]

Would taking on a 3 yr, $40+ million per obligation while failing to make the playoffs be a train wreck?

Is that your question?

Houston wouldn

[poido123]

You cannot win a championship with harden.

His ego is through the roof and his game relies on him pounding the rock. My most hated player in the NBA and I have sympathy for Paul, as vocal as he

[Kblaze8855]

Of course, for a team paying those salaries.

Taking on a 3 yr, $40+ million per obligation & failing to make it out of the 2nd round would be a train wreck. Absolutely.

But beyond that, just the optic of those two guys playing together is a train wreck.

The rockets are waaaaay over the cap. Taking on that contract will just mean moving another one. Not making it out of the second round when they already didnt isnt worth going with trainwreck. Being a good but not good enough team when thats what you already were?

We are just being dramatic. The Rockets probably wouldnt win with this lineup and they probably wont win now. If the difference is what early round they lose in....whats the real world difference?

Is there a second round banner I dont know about?

[poido123]

The rockets are waaaaay over the cap. Taking on that contract will just mean moving another one. Not making it out of the second round when they already didnt isnt worth going with trainwreck. Being a good but not good enough team when thats what you already were?

We are just being dramatic. The Rockets probably wouldnt win with this lineup and they probably wont win now. If the difference is what early round they lose in....whats the real world difference?

Is there a second round banner I dont know about?


Need two basketballs. It ain

[bladefd]

I will be laughing when someone takes CP3's trash contract. They will be stuck for next 3 years with someone injury-prone and taking up half the salary cap. :facepalm

You can say what you want about Westbrick, but he will still have trade value in 2yrs to move him again. CP3, nobody wants his deal. Houston has been trying to trade him since the draft - nobody wants him even for free (https://thebiglead.com/2019/06/19/rockets-cant-trade-chris-paul-denies-rumors/) :lol

If someone gives up draft picks and talent for CP3 on a 40mil/yr deal, that organization deserves to burn.

[red1]

get it done.


can you imagine if this goes through and if klay comes back for the playoffs?

2020 western conference playoffs? would be insane. :eek:

[Spurs m8]

get it done.


can you imagine if this goes through and if klay comes back for the playoffs?

2020 western conference playoffs? would be insane. :eek:

This is your average ESPN NBA fan.

[NBAGOAT]

First 6 minutes of the game to start together and last 6 minutes to finish together.

yep, agreed. one point of getting westbrook is he can carry the load more when he's on the floor compared to old paul so you can load manage harden. That's another thing to do, both guys should play like 70 games a year but both dont rest the same game. Have like harden rest the first of a b2b and westbrook the second. The other pieces fit well around a ball dominant pg in a dantoni system with 3pt shooters and finishers. a westbrook lead 2nd unit can beat a lot of good benches even possibly lou/harrell.

The on court fit is not good but harden/paul wasnt great either and the reason that worked the first year was they played only 18min together and paul was very capable still at leading an offense for 15-20min. Tbf paul has offball shooting value which makes the fit quite a bit better but it's still definitely not an optimal way of using him. Westbrook should still be good enough to lead an offense. Hou can also go back to playing fast like they did in 2017 not having to worry about gs and their transition layups and 3's as much. Means more transition scoring and quick pnrs and less isos which fits westbrook who wants to run.

[bladefd]

You cannot win a championship with harden.

His ego is through the roof and his game relies on him pounding the rock. My most hated player in the NBA and I have sympathy for Paul, as vocal as he’s been...

Can't win 1 with Westbrook either. CP3 looks like a prototypical pg, but he has also been a career loser for whatever reason :confusedshrug:

Houston is in tough spot because they are in win-now mode with huge salaries.. but a team I don't expect to ever win a title or even to reach the finals

[red1]

This is your average ESPN NBA fan.
get back to work you australian ****boy. :no:

[Kblaze8855]

[QUOTE=poido123]Need two basketballs. It ain

[Jasper]

Harden :" I got the ball "

Westbrock : " let me set it up "

Harden :" I got the ball "

Westbrock : " get'em involved"

Harden : " I got the ball"

Westbrock : " you can't win it by your self"

Harden :" I got the ball - - - I can beat anyone one on one "

WEstbrock : " We just lost "

Harden: " shucks - I'll get 'em next time"

Wetbrock : " It'll have to be next season , cause you just took us out of the playoffs "

Harden : " shucks - I'll get 'em next time"

CP3 : "how pathetic "

Harden : " where you fishin ?"

Westbrock and CP3 : " any where you aren't "

[LoneyROY7]

Harden :" I got the ball "

Westbrock : " let me set it up "

Harden :" I got the ball "

Westbrock : " get'em involved"

Harden : " I got the ball"

Westbrock : " you can't win it by your self"

Harden :" I got the ball - - - I can beat anyone one on one "

WEstbrock : " We just lost "

Harden: " shucks - I'll get 'em next time"

Wetbrock : " It'll have to be next season , cause you just took us out of the playoffs "

Harden : " shucks - I'll get 'em next time"

CP3 : "how pathetic "

Harden : " where you fishin ?"

Westbrock and CP3 : " any where you aren't "

What a f*cking cringe.

[SouBeachTalents]

What a f*cking cringe.
:oldlol: That was pretty bad

[Meticode]

I'm laughing just thinking about this.

[1987_Lakers]

Harden :" I got the ball "

Westbrock : " let me set it up "

Harden :" I got the ball "

Westbrock : " get'em involved"

Harden : " I got the ball"

Westbrock : " you can't win it by your self"

Harden :" I got the ball - - - I can beat anyone one on one "

WEstbrock : " We just lost "

Harden: " shucks - I'll get 'em next time"

Wetbrock : " It'll have to be next season , cause you just took us out of the playoffs "

Harden : " shucks - I'll get 'em next time"

CP3 : "how pathetic "

Harden : " where you fishin ?"

Westbrock and CP3 : " any where you aren't "

:facepalm

[Knicksfever2010]

with what trade assets? Also how are they matching salaries? CP3? Why on Earth would the Thunder take him back unless they are getting 10 first round picks back?

[DMAVS41]

As opposed to how well it worked last year?

Yep.

The Rockets had their window already...no need to avoid making changes now.

They had a great team in 18 that had a real chance to beat the Warriors...and last year they cut around the corners a bit and didn't add the required depth to actually win.

Might as well try something...especially if that "something" is adding a stud like Russ to shake things up a bit.

I'm a huge proponent of the 18 Rockets, but last year...you aren't winning the title when you only go 5 or 6 deep...just isn't happening in this league now.

So this notion that they can just do nothing with winning likely is a bit silly...no matter what...they'll need to add something.

[Mean Joe Bean]

Someone needs to slap Morey upside his head. He doesn't have a clue.

Analytics this, analytics that. Too much ****ing analytics and not enough watching the actual game.

This guy still has no idea that both Harden and Westbrook need the ball in their hands and their games don't mesh well together. Team chemistry and playing off the ball matters. Does this guy actually watch basketball or is he too busy studying the numbers????

If you thought Harden and Paul had a hard time playing together.... shiiiiit.. Harden and Westbrook is 10x worse.

[Manny98]

2 of the biggest playoff chokers the league has ever seen on the same team?

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[jayfan]

Yep.

The Rockets had their window already...no need to avoid making changes now.

They had a great team in 18 that had a real chance to beat the Warriors...and last year they cut around the corners a bit and didn't add the required depth to actually win.

Might as well try something...especially if that "something" is adding a stud like Russ to shake things up a bit.

I'm a huge proponent of the 18 Rockets, but last year...you aren't winning the title when you only go 5 or 6 deep...just isn't happening in this league now.

So this notion that they can just do nothing with winning likely is a bit silly...no matter what...they'll need to add something.
How deep do you expect them to become while hamstrung to Westbrook's contract?


.

[DMAVS41]

How deep do you expect them to become while hamstrung to Westbrook's contract?


.

I don't...I don't think this gets them into a title-winning team alone, but you run into the same problems with Paul's contract.

So I don't see the difference.

They are stuck for like the next 3 years just with Harden/Paul/Capela alone...they won't have any cap the next 2 summers...and this team isn't about 3 years from now...it is about this season and next.

[andgar923]

https://media.giphy.com/media/xTiN0zBMTVQKDC5IqI/giphy.gif
why?:confusedshrug:

[Levity]

does this mean we'll be getting some cringey harden+westbrook state farm commercials :eek:

[jayfan]

I don't...I don't think this gets them into a title-winning team alone, but you run into the same problems with Paul's contract.

So I don't see the difference.

They are stuck for like the next 3 years just with Harden/Paul/Capela alone...they won't have any cap the next 2 summers...and this team isn't about 3 years from now...it is about this season and next.
Isn't Paul's deal up a year before Westbrook's? Why strap yourself with an extra year?

.

[DMAVS41]

Isn't Paul's deal up a year before Westbrook's? Why strap yourself with an extra year?

.

I wasn't actually expecting it to be for Paul...but Russ is clearly better imo over the next 2 years and that is all that matters.

But, this ****ing league man...

Russ to the Rockets for Paul and picks...

:eek:

[bluechox2]

Isn't Paul's deal up a year before Westbrook's? Why strap yourself with an extra year?

.
Chris Paul and harden wasn

[Bosnian Sajo]

Hahahhahha harden fun to watch?
Okay champ....you may as well retire from basketball.

Rockets fun to watch.? Just quit already :roll: :roll: :roll:

Harden is absolutely fun to watch..he can take over an NBA game like only a few players can. You can hate him all you want, hes a straight goon and an offensive monster.


Yes, the russ/harden Rockets will 100% be fun to watch. You guys act like its IMPOSSIBLE for players to change up and coexist.

[LoneyROY7]

:dancin :dancin :dancin

[NBAGOAT]

i'm kind of excited for to see how westbrook plays when harden sits. westbrook/gordon/house/tucker/capela is a really well fitting lineup. Maybe getting more spotups with harden penetrating will get him 30%+ from 3 again lol.

[1987_Lakers]

Rockets about to be a weaker version of those KD/Westbrook Thunder teams.