This archive report was first published on 8 July 2019.
Rockets Eye Deal for Thunder Star Westbrook ¶
According to multiple reports, the Houston Rockets are eyeing a deal for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, who finds himself on a rebuilding team after the Thunder traded away Paul George.
Westbrook, the 2017 NBA MVP, was left on the Thunder after the team traded away Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers in a deal involving five first-round NBA Draft picks, Italian forward Danilo Gallinari, and Canadian point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Rockets are interested in a deal for the point guard, despite one source telling ESPN that it was a 'longshot' due to the difficulty in making such a move, involving multiple other teams or obtaining talent the Thunder desire.
The Athletic website also reported Houston's interest in Westbrook, saying that Miami and Detroit were hopefuls in making a deal for the versatile 30-year-old playmaker.
Westbrook was the NBA's 2017 MVP after averaging a full-season triple double of an NBA-best 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists, joining 1960s legend Oscar Robertson as the only players to accomplish the feat.
He did it for a third consecutive season in the 2018-19 campaign, averaging 22.9 points, a career-high 11.1 rebounds, plus a career-high and NBA-best 10.7 assists a game for Oklahoma City.
The move would reunite Westbrook and James Harden, who were teammates on the Thunder before Harden was traded to Houston after Oklahoma City lost to LeBron James-led Miami in the 2012 NBA Finals.
