Houston Rockets: Complete 2019 offseason grades
The Russell Westbrook trade
For over the last several years and counting, Daryl Morey has never played the role of bashful suitor when it comes to pursuing superstar talent.
In an offseason that marked the five-year anniversary of acquiring James Harden via trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 46-year-old analytics guru played an intrinsic part in helping the Houston Rockets acquire Chris Paul in a surprise sign-and-trade deal with the LA Clippers prior to the start of free agency in 2017.
Now, the 2018 Executive of the Year has managed to successfully strike again, as the man who missed out on landing Jimmy Butler twice found a way three weeks ago to reunite The Beard with one of his best friends.
On a night that marked exactly seven years from when the Rockets dealt Kyle Lowry for a first-round pick they would use to seize the face of the franchise, Houston would shock the basketball world by landing Russell Westbrook in yet another blockbuster trade with Oklahoma City.
While mortgaging a former All-Star and draft picks in the process, as the Rockets would send Chris Paul and two future first round picks and two picks swaps directly back to the Thunder on July 11.
"“We’re excited to have Russell Westbrook,” Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said per Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston in the immediate aftermath of the move. “This franchise just had the two years with the most wins it’s ever had in consecutive years and we wouldn’t have accomplished that without Chris Paul…he’s gonna be sadly missed. “I said at the end of the year we’re never gonna stand pat. We’re always gonna try to get better. I think this makes us a better team.”"
Although the speculation in regards to whether or not Harden and Westbrook pairing can work will not end until the two stars hit the floor this season, the acquisition of the former UCLA star is set to grant the Rockets with arguably one of the game’s most explosive backcourt duos in recent memory.
With the addition of Westbrook alongside Harden, the Rockets will enter the new decade with the only two players across the league that has currently scored 10,000-plus points since the start of the 2014-15 regular season.
In conjunction with the league’s back-to-back scoring and assist champions respectively, as the former MVP possesses an ultra-dynamic handle — combined with quickness — to blow by and terrorize countless defenders on the way to setting up scoring opportunities for either himself or others.
Should Westbrook find a way to stay healthy, then maybe there is a strong possibility that rekindling the augury with The Beard can pay off.
Plus lead to a championship this time around, as The Brodie will provide his childhood friend with the added luxury of playing alongside a true superstar in his prime.
In addition to being surrounded by a full fledged crop of shooters, allowing Westbrook to flourish more in a half-court environment with more space in Houston.
A sight that opposing teams should indeed seek to beware this coming season.