The Washington Wizards and the Houston Rockets made a massive trade on December 2nd, with the Wizards receiving Rusell Westbrook and the Rockets getting John Wall and a first-round pick in return.
Houston has agreed to trade Russell Westbrook to Washington for John Wall and a first-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 3, 2020
Both Wall and Westbrook were reportedly unhappy with their situations, and the two appeared in numerous trade rumors throughout the offseason. The Washington Wizards, who had a record of 25-47 last season, are looking to get back in the Eastern Conference’s mix.
In that pursuit, they wanted Westbrook in the backcourt with all-star shooting guard Bradley Beal. Beal is looking to build off a breakout season last year where he averaged 30 points per game.
Although Russell Westbrook is 31 years old, he still appears to be one of the league’s best players.
Through his only season with the Rockets, Westbrook continued his dominance averaging 27.0 points and eight assists per game. As a result, he was voted to the All-Star Team for his ninth time.
The Wizards have a very young core with players like Rui Hachimura, Deni Avadidji, And Davis Bertans. Playing with Russell Westbrook and seeing his work ethic should be very influential for younger players on the roster.
On the other hand, the Rockets were hoping to shake things up while staying in the mix in the West by adding All-Star point guard John Wall.
Wall will be looking to bounce back from a ruptured Achilles that had him sidelined for two seasons after appearing in just 20 games during the 2018-19 season.
John Wall is already turning heads in Houston. Wall’s ability to be in control of the game separates him from Russell Westbrook, who sometimes plays out of control.https://t.co/53aEeoUiy1
— Rockets Nation (@RocketsNationCP) December 14, 2020
During his time in D.C., John Wall averaged 19.0 points per game and 9.2 assists. He has appeared in five All-Star Games while taking the Wizards to the second round of the NBA Playoffs on numerous occasions.
He was considered one of the best point guards in the league pre-injury. His lightning-quick speed and defensive approach made him a problem on both ends of the court during his tenure in Washington. If the Kentucky product is anything close to his all-star form, the Rockets could still be very good this season.
The Rockets are looking to go in another direction after years of success under former general manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D’Antoni.
The Rockets went out and signed forward Christian Woods from the Detriot Pistons. As well as DeMarcus Cousins, once considered the best big man in basketball. They also went out and hired Stephen Silias, son of coaching legend Paul Silias.
John Wall to Boogie connection 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xfyTKCTNFQ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 12, 2020
The Rockets should still be deadly with a potential Harden-Wall-Cousins trio to keep them afloat in a competitive Western Conference. However, that’s only if a potential Harden trade doesn’t go down.
Both Houston and Washington are exciting teams going into the 2020-21 NBA Season. After all, both Westbrook and Wall are fantastic roster additions.
The Wizards hope to become a contender in the Eastern Conference while the Rockets want to maintain consistency in the Harden era.
And at the end of the day, both teams hope to continue developing cultures that put them on the right track to a future NBA Championship.
