NBA trade grades: Rockets and Wizards swap Russell Westbrook and John Wall

NBA trade grades for the Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards got a new lease on life by trading for Russell Westbrook. There are some unknowns in acquiring him, however. He tested positive for COVID-19 before the NBA bubble began and missed training camp time, and he injured a quad which held him out of playoff action, and he was never really himself when he was on the floor.

How much of that was a result of rust from minimal practice time or whether there were lasting effects from COVID remain to be seen. Before that particular issue arose, however, the Rockets were managing Westbrook’s playing time by sitting him on the second game of back-to-backs, so we’ll see if the Wizards are going to feel the need to do the same in order to maximize his impact.

If he’s good to go, he could be a ferocious force alongside Bradley Beal. With Beal playing off the ball when Westbrook is on, they should be a serious one-two scoring punch.

Of course, Westbrook isn’t nearly the defender he once was (and let’s be honest, he was never really a plus-defender), and nobody else on this team plays any defense either, so they’re going to have to rely on outscoring their opponents every single night.

For good reasons and bad, the Washington Wizards should be a fascinating viewing experience.

Without Westbrook, this wasn’t a playoff team in the East, and with him they might even make it close, but they won’t be making any noise in the playoffs even on the outside chance they squeeze in.

Grade: C