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[ESPN / MacMahon] Sources say Rockets do have interest in a Russell Westbrook deal

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Deuce, Jul 7, 2019.

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JW86 Member

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Hahaha pathetic

#421 JW86, Jul 8, 2019

steddinotayto Contributing Member

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J.R. said: ↑

Feigen:

The interest at this stage is more of an evaluation of whether they should take a run at him. That sort of move would go a long way toward determining the ultimate success of the James Harden era. There is a lot to consider.

In short, Westbrook is a terrible fit, but a great player.

There is something to be said for adding greatness, especially given the recent events in the Western Conference arms race. For all his detractors and some of the shortcomings, Westbrook remains a force of nature. Somehow, his triple-double ability has gone from overrated to under-appreciated.

In time, it will be celebrated again. His remarkable athleticism and competitive fire would be welcome. And it should not be ignored when thinking about him with the Rockets that they are a poor rebounding team and he is a great rebounding guard.

The fit question is very real. The Rockets believed that Chris Paul would work well with Harden because Paul was such a good catch-and-shoot threat in the years before the trade to Houston. That worked well in the first season. Though Paul did not shoot as well last season, that could be the aberration. That part of his game has a chance to age well. And with the right mix with a second unit, Paul could get back to being an elite pick-and-roll playmaker, if not the one-on-one threat he had been in his first year with the Rockets.

Westbrook is such an explosive talent that he could make the Rockets more dangerous in a playoff series. But he and Harden are both at their best with the ball in their hands. Paul George had his best season playing next to Westbrook, but it is difficult to imagine Harden being better than, or even as sensational, as he was last season by giving up the ball. Westbrook is not the kind of shooter (and nowhere near the defender) George is if he is asked to play off the ball.

If a deal involved moving Paul — and it would almost certainly have to be to a third team given that the Thunder appear rushing to a rebuild — the Rockets would move off Paul's hefty contract. Westbrook's deal is a season longer, but he could maintain his physical gifts well into his contract. He could extend the window of opportunity for Harden and the current group.

There is no doubt a trade for Westbrook would be an all-in move. It would likely cost more picks from a team that has not had a first-round pick in four seasons. And if it costs more from the Rockets' returning starting five, it would be difficult to imagine them rising to the top of the loaded west.

In a risk/reward evaluation, the risk is enormous with the chance of a championship reward possibly improved, depending on the cost, but far from probable.

In some ways, it feels like typical Rockets, a team that has chased stars for decades.
Click to expand...

Why do I get a feeling that there's some sort of three way trade happening where we get Westbrook, we ship Paul to Miami, and OKC ends up with Dragic, James Johnson and their respective expirings?

I will need a few shots of whiskey to let that one set in.

#422 steddinotayto, Jul 8, 2019
Last edited: Jul 8, 2019

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HOUSTON2017 Member

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J.R. said: ↑

Feigen:

The interest at this stage is more of an evaluation of whether they should take a run at him. That sort of move would go a long way toward determining the ultimate success of the James Harden era. There is a lot to consider.

In short, Westbrook is a terrible fit, but a great player.

There is something to be said for adding greatness, especially given the recent events in the Western Conference arms race. For all his detractors and some of the shortcomings, Westbrook remains a force of nature. Somehow, his triple-double ability has gone from overrated to under-appreciated.

In time, it will be celebrated again. His remarkable athleticism and competitive fire would be welcome. And it should not be ignored when thinking about him with the Rockets that they are a poor rebounding team and he is a great rebounding guard.

The fit question is very real. The Rockets believed that Chris Paul would work well with Harden because Paul was such a good catch-and-shoot threat in the years before the trade to Houston. That worked well in the first season. Though Paul did not shoot as well last season, that could be the aberration. That part of his game has a chance to age well. And with the right mix with a second unit, Paul could get back to being an elite pick-and-roll playmaker, if not the one-on-one threat he had been in his first year with the Rockets.

Westbrook is such an explosive talent that he could make the Rockets more dangerous in a playoff series. But he and Harden are both at their best with the ball in their hands. Paul George had his best season playing next to Westbrook, but it is difficult to imagine Harden being better than, or even as sensational, as he was last season by giving up the ball. Westbrook is not the kind of shooter (and nowhere near the defender) George is if he is asked to play off the ball.

If a deal involved moving Paul — and it would almost certainly have to be to a third team given that the Thunder appear rushing to a rebuild — the Rockets would move off Paul's hefty contract. Westbrook's deal is a season longer, but he could maintain his physical gifts well into his contract. He could extend the window of opportunity for Harden and the current group.

There is no doubt a trade for Westbrook would be an all-in move. It would likely cost more picks from a team that has not had a first-round pick in four seasons. And if it costs more from the Rockets' returning starting five, it would be difficult to imagine them rising to the top of the loaded west.

In a risk/reward evaluation, the risk is enormous with the chance of a championship reward possibly improved, depending on the cost, but far from probable.

In some ways, it feels like typical Rockets, a team that has chased stars for decades.
Click to expand...

SO IS IT HAPPENING OR NOT

#423 HOUSTON2017, Jul 8, 2019
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Furious Jam said: ↑

Come on, you can do better than that. Westbrook's superpower is acceleration, Harden's is deceleration. Westbrook is deadly in transition but poor in isolation, whereas Harden is great in isolation but rarely runs. They seem to complement each other pretty well. I think you can get the best of 7-seconds-or-less as well as Morey-ball.
Click to expand...

Sounds great but what happens when they are both on floor together?

#424 D-rock, Jul 8, 2019
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HOUSTON2017 said: ↑

SO IS IT HAPPENING OR NOT
Click to expand...

They're in the exploration stage.

Still don't believe it's happening because you have nowhere (IMO) to move Chris Paul. And until you move Chris...

I'm not gonna even entertain the 3 PG experiment. - "No, we don't necessarily have to move Chris [to get Russ]. Not at all. We can have all 3." - NOPE. Not even gonna entertain that.

#425 J.R., Jul 8, 2019

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Furious Jam said: ↑

Come on, you can do better than that. Westbrook's superpower is acceleration, Harden's is deceleration. Westbrook is deadly in transition but poor in isolation, whereas Harden is great in isolation but rarely runs. They seem to complement each other pretty well. I think you can get the best of 7-seconds-or-less as well as Morey-ball.
Click to expand...

this

#426 tc0330, Jul 8, 2019
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J.R. said: ↑

They're in the exploration stage.

Still don't believe it's happening because you have nowhere (IMO) to move Chris Paul. And until you move Chris...

I'm not gonna even entertain the 3 PG experiment. - "No, we don't necessarily have to move Chris [to get Russ]. Not at all. We can have all 3." - NOPE. Not even gonna entertain that.
Click to expand...

So you're saying you don't like triple penetration?

#427 bratna8, Jul 8, 2019

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steddinotayto said: ↑

Why do I get a feeling that there's some sort of three way trade happening where we get Westbrook, we ship Paul to Miami, and OKC ends up with Dragic, James Johnson and their respective expirings?

I will need a few shots of whiskley to let that one set in.
Click to expand...

THREE TEAMS!?!?!!

#428 DreamShook, Jul 8, 2019

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Furious Jam Contributing Member

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D-rock said: ↑

Sounds great but what happens when they are both on floor together?
Click to expand...

Again, Russ gets the first touch - he gets the ball in transition. Harden trails and gets the ball if there's nothing in transition.

#429 Furious Jam, Jul 8, 2019
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1 yard line!

#430 izeroi, Jul 8, 2019
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Furious Jam said: ↑

Again, Russ gets the first touch - he gets the ball in transition. Harden trails and gets the ball if there's nothing in transition.
Click to expand...

No thanks.

#431 D-rock, Jul 8, 2019
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steddinotayto said: ↑

Why do I get a feeling that there's some sort of three way trade happening where we get Westbrook, we ship Paul to Miami, and OKC ends up with Dragic, James Johnson and their respective expirings?

I will need a few shots of whiskley to let that one set in.
Click to expand...

Because you read it from a post i made few days ago

Jk, but that's what i actually thought too, the problem is Presti might not want to help Miami getting better cause he owns two of their future picks.

Also, the fact that CP3 liked that post makes me think if a Westbrook trade happens, it's going to involve Eric and Shumpert, which would be ok in terms of players in & out (especially if Gordon has no interest in extending his contract), but i don't know about playing CP3, Russ and James together, that's a huge risk, actually looks dumb as **** tbh.

And god have mercy if for some reason we would move multiple picks in that trade...

#432 Vivi, Jul 8, 2019

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Vivi said: ↑

Because you read it from a post i made few days ago

Jk, but that's what i actually thought too, the problem is Presti might not want to help Miami getting better cause he owns two of their future picks.

Also, the fact that CP3 liked that post makes me think if a Westbrook trade happens, it's going to involve Eric and Shumpert, which would be ok in terms of players in & out (especially if Gordon has no interest in extending his contract), but i don't know about playing CP3, Russ and James together, that's a huge risk, actually looks dumb as **** tbh.

And god have mercy if for some reason we would move multiple picks in that trade...
Click to expand...

I would have to make sure my kids have 911 ready if we were to surrender multiple picks to take on Russell Westbrook while moving Paul out because that whole bottle whiskey would be downed in one gigantic shot.

#433 steddinotayto, Jul 8, 2019

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J.R. said: ↑

They're in the exploration stage.

Still don't believe it's happening because you have nowhere (IMO) to move Chris Paul. And until you move Chris...

I'm not gonna even entertain the 3 PG experiment. - "No, we don't necessarily have to move Chris [to get Russ]. Not at all. We can have all 3." - NOPE. Not even gonna entertain that.
Click to expand...

So Morey leaked that CP3 would be gone if they bring Westbrick in?

#434 Icehouse, Jul 8, 2019
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Icehouse said: ↑

So Morey leaked that CP3 would be gone if they bring Westbrick in?
Click to expand...

No, according to MacMahon, that we don't have to move Chris to make a move for Russell!

"A source said that Paul would not necessarily need to be involved in a deal that delivers Westbrook to the Rockets"

#435 J.R., Jul 8, 2019

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Blake Griffin
$34,449,964
$36,810,996
$38,957,028 (Player Option)

Andre Drummond
$27,093,019
$28,751,774 (Player Option)

Reggie Jackson
$18,086,956

Tony Snell
$11,392,857
$12,178,571 (Player Option)

Langston Galloway
$7,333,333

Luke Kennard
$3,827,160
$5,273,826 (Team Option)
$7,256,785 (Qualifying Offer)

Thon Maker
$3,569,643
$4,861,854 (Qualifying Offer)

& minimum salaries in Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk(NG), Khyri Thomas & Bruce Brown Jr.

#436 J.R., Jul 8, 2019

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steddinotayto Contributing Member

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J.R. said: ↑

Blake Griffin
$34,449,964
$36,810,996
$38,957,028 (Player Option)

Andre Drummond
$27,093,019
$28,751,774 (Player Option)

Reggie Jackson
$18,086,956

Tony Snell
$11,392,857
$12,178,571 (Player Option)

Langston Galloway
$7,333,333

Luke Kennard
$3,827,160
$5,273,826 (Team Option)
$7,256,785 (Qualifying Offer)

Thon Maker
$3,569,643
$4,861,854 (Qualifying Offer)

& minimum salaries in Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk(NG), Khyri Thomas & Bruce Brown Jr.

Click to expand...

Westbrook to Detroit makes so much sense. Drummond/Blake/Russ would get them, what, 48 wins in the East? That gets them around the 4th-6th seed?

#437 steddinotayto, Jul 8, 2019

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47 wins, go home in the first round.

#438 J.R., Jul 8, 2019

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J.R. said: ↑

47 wins, go home in the first round.
Click to expand...

#439 Rasheed, Jul 8, 2019
Sean Dr34ms Member

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J.R. said: ↑

Blake Griffin
$34,449,964
$36,810,996
$38,957,028 (Player Option)

Andre Drummond
$27,093,019
$28,751,774 (Player Option)

Reggie Jackson
$18,086,956

Tony Snell
$11,392,857
$12,178,571 (Player Option)

Langston Galloway
$7,333,333

Luke Kennard
$3,827,160
$5,273,826 (Team Option)
$7,256,785 (Qualifying Offer)

Thon Maker
$3,569,643
$4,861,854 (Qualifying Offer)

& minimum salaries in Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk(NG), Khyri Thomas & Bruce Brown Jr.

Click to expand...

This makes the most sense, but I believe Chris Broussard said that’s where he’ll end up so looks like we’re getting Russ!

#440 Sean Dr34ms, Jul 8, 2019

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