That was GM Harden pouting. He demanded Rockets get Westbrook. Harden was done with CP3, and wanted his butt high tailed out of town. CP3 and Harden could have worked, but Hardens carefree style clashed with CP3 high intensity style. Rockets thought CP3 was cooked. So they gave a lot so the Thunder could take him off their hands. OKC rebuilt him, and scored a big return shipping him to Phoenix. They say OkC still smells of roses after the CP3 stint.
Obvious case of "New Ownership-itis", same thing happened to the Suns with the Beal and Durant trades the moment Ishbia took over. Desperation heaves to win a title. Under a less stupid ownership, Harden would have been spritzed with a spray bottle and told "Bad Boy! No Westbrook!"
We had CP3 under contract, we weren't obligated to trade him. Theoretically we could've retooled and tried to run it back with a better supporting cast. Obviously (and I say this with him being my second favourite player ever) James is a MASSIVE spoiled baby when it comes to not getting his own way, so he probably would've ****ed it all up for the sake of spite, but we didn't know that yet, it was pre-fat suit "I'll definitely burn all my bridges and **** y'all to get my own way" Beard after all.
I was talking about right after the rockets they just went to the WCFs. The rockets clearly did not run it back and improve.
Harden wanting CP3 gone is not an unimaginable demand from a 'franchise player'. But appeasing to every single whim from your 'franchise player' is not healthy either. Thats where I wish there was a compromise, ok we will move CP3 but you are not getting Wesbrook. Empty-Till-man and Bad-Trick Fertitta gave up way too much and triggered the beginning of a downward spiral. Massive turning point for this Franchise. But we have to move on dont we. We have some exciting prospects, a chest of future picks, some solid vets PLUS one of the best coaches in the league. So that's something I guess.
Tilman said to anyone who would listen that CP3's contract was the "worst in the league." It was definitely him that pushed this trade through. Why the hell he traded for Westbrook's almost-equally bad contract (and gave up a metric f$#k-ton of draft capital) is anyone's guess.
Other way around. We traded a better player on a better contract for a worse player on a worse contract.
I think at the time of the trade, Westbrook had 4 years left in his contract while CP3 had 2 years left.
And we attached a ton of draft capital... I guess that's karma for robbing them with the Harden trade.
Ya i think the harden trade probably had the most championship impact of any trade in the last 30 or so years. Russ had 3 years left and cp had 2
Westbrook - one of the worst Rockets if alltime. Highly over rated and always given a pass from criticism. Needs to retire.
Did you watch, Kelvin Cato, Stromile Swift, Matt Maloney, Ryan Anderson, Shandon Anderson, Scottie Pippen, Jeremy Lin, are a butt ton of other large deals - for their time? Hell what about Carmelo?
That's not what you said though, what you said was "was there even a chance?" and yes, there was a chance, we just didn't take it.
