Russell Westbrook “wants out” of Houston.
That’s according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, who tweeted the former NBA MVP’s intentions following an ESPN report that suggested both Westbrook and James Harden were concerned about the Rockets’ direction.
Westbrook, who has spent just one season in Houston, was acquired last off-season by an aggressive Rockets franchise looking to cash in on their championship window.
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Instead, with Westbrook, in the line-up, Houston was further away from the title than they were with Chris Paul, who was sent packing to Oklahoma City.
According to The Athletic, Westbrook “has made it known for quite some time” that he sees problems within Houston’s culture, and also wants a return to the floor-general role he had with the Thunder.
“Throughout the season, Westbrook was the consistent presence who kept Harden accountable, The Athletic reported, “and the two close friends had several verbal exchanges that sources described as ‘tense, but needed.’”
A bit like watching a two-year-old desperately trying to squeeze his square block into the circle-shaped hole of his geometric toy set, it was pretty clear from the outset that Westbrook wasn’t going to work in Houston.
Sure, talent sometimes overrides fit. But the guy who needs the ball in his hands at all times, shoots from the mid-range, and struggles from three-point range, is probably not who you want next to Harden.
There were glimpses of fluency to the partnership worth nearly $77m ($A105m) last season, but only when one of Harden or Westbrook lost their eternal game of ‘shotgun’ and ended up in the back seat.
Westbrook averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7 assists a game for Houston, but the playoffs saw the Rockets pushed to seven games by Paul’s OKC unit, before being dispatched in five games against the Los Angeles Lakers.
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With Daryl Morey, the architect, and Mike D’Antoni, the man responsible for guiding what was constructed, both out of the building, and Westbrook likely to be traded, Harden is apparently staying put.
According to The Athletic, Harden is “locked in” for the season ahead.
The Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks were said to be interested in trading for Westbrook, and more suitors would likely be out there for the 32-year-old, who still has three years, and over $US130 million owed on his current deal.
