Reports: Russell Westbrook Wants Out of Houston

Houston, we have a problem. All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook reportedly wants out of Space City.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the 32-year old guard is “uneasy about the team’s accountability and culture”. Charania added that Westbrook wants to be traded to a team where he can have a similar role to the one he had in Oklahoma City before his trade to Houston.

Rockets’ Russell Westbrook wants out of Houston, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 12, 2020

Westbrook still has $132M over three years left in his current contract, including a massive $47M player option during the 2022-23 season. Finding a trading partner who would take on that contract would be difficult unless the Rockets dangle additional assets. Houston also doesn’t have draft picks to attach to a potential Westbrook trade because they gave up a lot of picks to acquire him last season. The 2017 MVP was traded to the Rockets for Chris Paul last season. Westbrook averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game in 57 regular-season games.

During the playoffs, Russ battled with a quad injury and COVID-19 in the postseason but was still able to put up 17.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game in eight postseason games played.

Concern About Rockets’ Direction

Early on Wednesday, reports from ESPN claimed that Westbrook and James Harden expressed concern about the Rockets’ direction. Despite team owner Tillman Fertitta’s statement that he’s not planning to break up the band, Houston has undergone major moves outside the basketball court this offseason.

James Harden and Russell Westbrook’s uncertainty about the Rockets’ direction has left the front office “fearful” of losing its stars, per @wojespn and @espn_macmahon

They haven’t asked for a trade but it’s a “plausible eventual possibility” pic.twitter.com/VJ7rq9wSur

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 11, 2020

Head coach Mike D’Antoni opted not to renew his contract and instead chose to become Steve Nash’s assistant in Brooklyn. Longtime General Manager Daryl Morey quit his post and later signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Meanwhile, the Rockets’ coaching search ended with the hiring of Stephen Silas, who wasn’t one of the candidates that James Harden was vouching for. The 2018 MVP was reportedly lobbying for Tyronn Lue or John Lucas. Lue stayed with the Clippers while Lucas was recently added as one of Silas’ assistants with the Rockets.

Stone Not Committed to Small Ball

Newly installed GM Rafael Stone has reiterated Fertitta’s desire to contend for a championship this season with Harden and Westbrook currently in their athletic primes. But then Stone also said that he isn’t committed to continuing D’Antoni’s “small ball” approach which makes the whole scenario even more interesting.

#Rockets coach Stephen Silas: “In today’s NBA, you cannot play one way. Small ball can be a part of it. We want to be a little less predictable.”

GM Rafael Stone: “I would anticipate we’ll provide Stephen with some more optionality to go big or small.”https://t.co/YKgsl9y72P

— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) November 5, 2020

Houston is one of the vertically challenged teams in the league with P.J. Tucker and Robert Covington as their primary big men. The Rockets traded starting center Clint Capela at last season’s deadline and adding a quality big man will be difficult this offseason with the bulk of their salary cap allotted for Harden, Westbrook, and Eric Gordon.

To make matters worse, the Rockets don’t have a draft pick in next week’s 2020 NBA Draft as a result of previous trades. Although Stone recently talked about trading into the 2020 NBA Draft, that would mean giving up one or more of their current assets or more additional future picks which would only complicate matters.

Settling Their Issues

The Rockets finished the 2019-20 season with a 44-28 record, the best in the Southwest Division and 4th best in the Western Conference. They beat OKC in the first round of the playoffs but fell to the eventual champions Lakers in the West semis. With no legit big man on their team, the Rockets were significantly outrebounded at 45.4 vs 32.6 total rebounds per game.

Houston has the 6th best odds to win the Western Conference at +1600 at NBA betting sites. They also have the 11th shortest odds to win the 2021 NBA title at +2800. But unless they settle their issues with Harden and Westbrook soon, the 2020-21 season could be a disaster.

There is just over a month between now and the start of the season. If the Rockets decide to keep their lineup, they may be too small to beat the elite teams during the playoffs. If they choose to shake up the roster, there might not be enough time to integrate new pieces to the core.