Shortly before the season, the Wizards did what was once unthinkable, sending John Wall and a protected first round pick to the Houston Rockets for Russell Westbrook.
It was a classic problem for problem trade. Wall had just suffered through three seasons of significant injuries, which culminated in missing a season and a half with a torn Achilles.
Westbrook still had some — he somehow got named third team All-NBA last season — but he was clearly aging, had largely lost whatever shooting touch he once had, and wasn’t getting along with Rockets star James Harden.