Running through the cost and outcome of the three previous Russell Westbrook trades

Russell Westbrook’s trade background has been a subject of dialogue not long ago. He’s played for four groups in as a lot of years and most people imagine the Los Angeles Lakers are not his ultimate stop. Even although there’s no news of a Westbrook trade ask for, it is very clear that he’d welcome a change of surroundings right after parting techniques with his agent.

Russell Westbrook trade background

Russell Westbrook is a initial-ballot Corridor of Famer and ought to be handled as this kind of. Nonetheless, as fantastic as he is, he’s usually been his no. 1 enemy. He refuses to adapt his recreation to his teammates, and that under no circumstances-ending aggressiveness can be detrimental to his efficiency in essential stretches of the sport.

Which is why Westbrook has constantly been this kind of a controversial player. Some declare he’s a stat-padder, however he does items no other player in the league can. I indicate, if it was that effortless, how arrive no other player had averaged a triple-double for a whole period several instances in his job?

So, with that in mind, let us consider a glimpse back at his occupation and how issues have fared for him ever since leaving the Oklahoma Town Thunder.

Leaving Oklahoma

There was no signal of a Westbrook trade request. If nearly anything, he prolonged his deal with the Thunder even when Kevin Durant made the decision to depart. However, it was apparent that the Thunder needed a rebuild after losing Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers, and they felt like he deserved the chance to participate in for a contender.

The Thunder traded him for Chris Paul, two initial-round picks, and two choose swaps. He struggled earlier in the period subsequent to James Harden and only played 57 video games due to personal injury, but obtained very hot as the workforce achieved the playoffs.

He averaged 27.2 details, 7.9 rebounds, 7. helps, and 1.6 steals for each game, ending a a few-yr streak of averaging a triple-double. They beat the Thunder in the initial round but missing to the Lakers in the second.

Arriving in DC

On reports of an alleged beef amongst him and Harden, the Washington Wizards obtained Westbrook for John Wall and a lottery-guarded very first-spherical decide. The Wizards considered pairing him with Bradley Beal would propel them back to playoff competition, as Wall had missed lots of time with various injuries.

His tenure with the Washington Wizards is probably the most underrated amid all of Russell Westbrook’s trade background. At the time all over again, he looked poor early in the yr, but he place the Washington Wizards on his shoulders and led them to an unlikely playoff berth. The Wizards completed the time 34-38, but still built it to the postseason as the eighth-seed. Sadly, they ended up no rival for the Philadelphia 76ers in the initial spherical.

A homecoming in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Lakers could’ve landed Buddy Hield, but LeBron James and Anthony Davis urged them to trade for Russell Westbrook as a substitute. This Westbrook’s trade information are nonetheless quite baffling, although, as he was a component of a five-crew trade that despatched Spencer Dinwiddie, Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Montrezl Harrell to Washington, and demanded multiple pick swaps and small actions also involving the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs.

A single didn’t have to be a basketball connoisseur to notice that the trio of James, Westbrook, and Davis would have a rough time collectively on the ground, as they are all ball-dominant gamers and not precisely elite three-issue shooters. So, it was not surprising to see them overlook the playoffs in their first time as the new Significant 3.

Westbrook was the fall guy and lots of lovers blamed him for the team’s shortcomings. That is not reasonable, nor is it accurate, but after all over again, he was hesitant to be held accountable and unsuccessful to modify to his team’s needs. Now, they are reportedly prepared to operate it back again and give it yet another shot, but we wouldn’t rule out an additional trade in his foreseeable future.