Chris Paul-Russell Westbrook Trade Seen as 'Haunting Deal' for Rockets
The Houston Rockets have long moved past their rebuilding phase. Their valuable draft assets remain significant, including picks acquired through the James Harden trade with the Brooklyn Nets in 2021, now belonging to the Phoenix Suns for the 2027 and 2029 first rounds.
However, their 2026 first-round pick is expected to go to the Oklahoma City Thunder unless it ranks among the top four, which would signal a disappointing season for Houston. This obligation stems from the 2019 trade sending Chris Paul to the Thunder in exchange for Russell Westbrook, along with first-round picks in 2024 and 2026, plus pick swaps in 2021 and 2025.
Houston only received one season from Westbrook, while Paul's Thunder finished with a matching 44-28 record. The two teams even clashed in a grueling seven-game playoff series. Bleacher Report highlighted this trade as still haunting the Rockets in 2025.
"In July 2019, the Rockets were clinging to fading hopes of making a championship run with James Harden and tried this deal out of desperation. It effectively flatlined those dreams for good and shifted everything for the franchise. Westbrook was always a strange choice to slot alongside Harden."
This trade altered the franchise's path and remains a painful reminder of what might have been.
Author's Summary: The 2019 Chris Paul-Westbrook trade continues to impact the Rockets’ future, burdening them with draft picks while marking a pivotal setback for the team’s championship ambitions.