On Thursday evening, the Houston Rockets made a lot of noise in what had otherwise been a very quiet summer. They made headlines by sending Chris Paul, along with picks, to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Russell Westbrook.
Daryl Morey was able to work his magic once again, unloading the aging Paul’s massive contract for a former MVP who’s still in his prime. The Rockets now have a new and very dynamic back court, featuring the unrivaled athleticism of Westbrook and the shooting touch and craftiness of James Harden.
As ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported, the Rockets sent Chris Paul, along with a 2024 and 2026 protected first-round pick and two pick swaps, in 2021 and 2025, to the Thunder in exchange for Westbrook.