Report: Wizards discussing John Wall for Russell Westbrook trade
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Wizards
Report: Wizards discussing John Wall for Russell Westbrook trade
John Wall will soon be returning from a nearly two years-long absence due to injury and when he does it may not be in a Wizards uniform.
According to Shams Charania of the Athletic, the Wizards are discussing a trade with the Rockets that would include sending Wall to Houston for former MVP Russell Westbrook. That would reunite Westbrook with his former head coach in Oklahoma City, Scott Brooks.
Now, that is a trade rumor. Wall is due to make about $40.8 million this coming season, while Westbrook will make close to $41 million, so the salaries nearly match up. As Charania notes, more pieces would have to be involved to pull off the trade.
It sounds preliminary at this point, but if this were to go through it would have major ramifications around the league. The Rockets would be signaling a true rebuild and, one could imagine, be getting some draft picks in return. Meanwhile, the Wizards would be pairing Westbrook with Bradley Beal and take a big step forward towards contention.
Westbrook is now 32 years old, so two years older than Wall, but he does not have the injury history, as Wall is coming back from a ruptured Achilles. Westbrook also just made the All-NBA team for the Rockets, so he can still play.
More on this story as it develops…