Russell Westbrook

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

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Russell Westbrook’s trade history has been a subject of discussion recently. He’s played for four teams in as many years and most people believe the Los Angeles Lakers aren’t his final stop. Even though there’s no news of a Westbrook trade request, it’s clear that he’d welcome a change of scenery after parting ways with his agent.

Russell Westbrook trade history

Russell Westbrook is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and should be treated as such. However, as great as he is, he’s always been his no. 1 enemy. He refuses to adapt his game to his teammates, and that never-ending aggressiveness can be detrimental to his performance in key stretches of the game.

That’s why Westbrook has always been such a controversial player. Some claim he’s a stat-padder, yet he does things no other player in the league can. I mean, if it was that easy, how come no other player had averaged a triple-double for a full season multiple times in his career?

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look back at his career and how things have fared for him ever since leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Leaving Oklahoma

There was no sign of a Westbrook trade request. If anything, he extended his contract with the Thunder even when Kevin Durant decided to leave. Nonetheless, it was clear that the Thunder needed a rebuild after losing Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers, and they felt like he deserved the chance to play for a contender.

       

The Thunder traded him for Chris Paul, two first-round picks, and two pick swaps. He struggled earlier in the season next to James Harden and only played 57 games due to injury, but got hot as the team reached the playoffs.

He averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, ending a three-year streak of averaging a triple-double. They beat the Thunder in the first round but lost to the Lakers in the second.

Arriving in DC

Upon reports of an alleged beef between him and Harden, the Washington Wizards acquired Westbrook for John Wall and a lottery-protected first-round pick. The Wizards thought pairing him with Bradley Beal would propel them back to playoff contention, as Wall had missed plenty of time with multiple injuries.

His tenure with the Washington Wizards is maybe the most underrated among all of Russell Westbrook’s trade history. Once again, he looked bad early in the year, but he put the Washington Wizards on his shoulders and led them to an unlikely playoff berth. The Wizards finished the season 34-38, but still made it to the postseason as the eighth-seed. Sadly, they were no rival for the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.

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 instead. This Westbrook’s trade details are still quite confusing, though, as he was a part of a five-team trade that sent Spencer Dinwiddie, Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Montrezl Harrell to Washington, and required multiple pick swaps and minor movements also involving the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs.

       

One didn’t have to be a basketball connoisseur to realize that the trio of James, Westbrook, and Davis would have a tough time together on the floor, as they’re all ball-dominant players and not exactly elite three-point shooters. So, it wasn’t surprising to see them miss the playoffs in their first season as the new Big 3.

Westbrook was the fall guy and many fans blamed him for the team’s shortcomings. That’s not fair, nor is it accurate, but once again, he was reluctant to be held accountable and failed to adjust to his team’s needs. Now, they’re reportedly willing to run it back and give it another shot, but we wouldn’t rule out another trade in his future.

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