Did the Houston Rockets Win the Russell Westbrook/John Wall Trade?

Written by Thomas Brown

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    Point guard and former NBA Regular-Season MVP, Russell Westbrook has just reportedly been traded to the Washington Wizards for John Wall and a 2023 first round pick per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. I believe that this trade will prove to be more beneficial for the Houston Rockets, who have recently signed Wall's former University of Kentucky teammate, DeMarcus Cousins, as well as promising young big man, Christian Woods, who averaged 24 points and 9.5 rebounds since the all-star break for the Detroit Pistons last season. However, the real question here is if the Houston Rockets won or lost this trade and why? So, let's get into it!

John Wall/DeMarcus Cousins combination

    It is well-known that John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins have a strong friendship off of the court. Also, the two both played for the University of Kentucky together and were college roommates before John Wall would become a number one overall pick and Cousins being a top 5 pick. This duo could potentially prove to bode well for a franchise that is going for a new look in the Houston Rockets. Before being plagued with injuries, both were perennial all-stars. In the 2016-2017 NBA season, John Wall saw averages of 23.1 points, 10.7 assists, and 1.9 steals in 78 games that accompanied an all-star appearance in the 2017 NBA All-Star game. Meanwhile during that same season, DeMarcus Cousins was able to notch a third all-star game appearance and boasted averages of nearly 28 points and 11 rebounds in 55 games. However, neither saw the court last season due to injuries, so it will be interesting to see if both can return to their all-star caliber ways. 

James Harden

    A statement has been made in Houston that James Harden no longer wants to be a Rocket. He reportedly declined a two-year contract extension worth $103 million. Before this trade, I believe that the Rockets organization had lost James Harden, and he would be heading to Brooklyn. I also believe that Houston thinks the same, which is why they went out and traded for a guard with similar play-making abilities as both Harden and Russell Westbrook.

2023 First Round Pick

    Though it is hard to tell what draft prospects 2023 will bring, there is a chance this pick could turn out to be a lottery pick if the Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook pairing does not work out. Also, this pick provides insurance for if James Harden leaves Houston or if the John Wall experiment does not result in wins. Overall, I think this is a great acquisition for the Houston Rockets.

My Verdict

    Ultimately, the Houston Rockets have made some great moves this offseason, however, it is too early to tell how good John Wall will actually be. Also, would John Wall be a fit with James Harden? Or, will the Rockets look to trade Harden? These factors play a huge role on if this trade could prove to be productive for the Houston Rockets. I believe that Houston will be able to look back and be proud of the decision they made.