Another Woj bomb was dropped on the NBA on Thursday evening. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that Russell Westbrook was being traded to Houston for Chris Paul, first round picks in 2024 and 2026, and the right to swap first round picks in 2021 and 2025.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed to trade Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul, first-round picks in 2024 and 2026, pick swaps in 2021 and 2025, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 12, 2019
The move caps off a stunning week for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Last week, the Thunder agreed to trade Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for an incredible haul of draft picks. Oklahoma City received five first round picks from the Clippers over the next seven years, and the right to swap first round picks with the Clippers in 2023 and 2025.
Oklahoma City is trading All-Star Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for a record-setting collection of draft choices, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
Thunder GM Sam Presti now has an incredible eight additional first round picks to work with up until 2026 after dealing George, Westbrook, and Jerami Grant. Oklahoma City and Presti are certainly the envy of small market teams across the league after this move. They did the unthinkable by one-upping what Sam Hinkie did in Philadelphia earlier this decade, and they were able to blow it all up in the span of one week.
Thunder are playing a long-game unseen in recent NBA history: Seven additional first-round picks lined up through 2026 — plus four pick swaps — via deals for Paul George and Chris Paul.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 12, 2019
Many have speculated that the Thunder will move CP3 as well before the season starts in an effort to completely start anew with their payroll. However, the ownership is certainly thrilled as numerous reports stated that OKC was desperate to get under the luxury tax threshold this season.
As for the other team involved in this trade, the Rockets have gotten even better and might be the biggest threat to the Clippers in the West. Although many on social media are lampooning the trade as they wonder how Westbrook and Harden will share the ball with each player having such a high usage rate, these are two of the last three league MVPs. Houston is going to score a lot of points this season.
