After only a season with the Houston Rockets following a trade from Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook might be staring at the exit door. The point guard wants an exit after reportedly being unpleasant about the franchise’s accountability and culture.
Westbrook apparently wants to join a club where he has a similar role as a “floor-general”, much like his prior stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The point guard has actually tried to implement the accountability environment over the course of the season with the Rockets but found no avail after a few tense conversations with ace James Harden over the subject.
Rockets’ Russell Westbrook wants out of Houston, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 12, 2020
Apart from the team environment, Westbrook is not satisfied with the team’s approach tactically as well, since he is not on board with the Rockets’ offense.
The latter issue at hand might have been resolved since the franchise let go of coach Mike D’Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey this offseason. The Rockets have roped in the services of Stephen Silas as head coach.
Here’s what the newly appointed coach had to say about the volatile situation:
“I kind of gave them my vision as far as how I wanted to play, and how I wanted them to be able to use their greatness in a way that will help the team win,” Silas said. “They were all about whatever’s best for the team to win.”
Westbrook and Harden, not two peas in a pod anymore
With the Rockets’ heartbeat James Harden expressing his desire to stay with the team, the fact might be another incentive for Westbrook to depart. Having a similar style of play which demands a lot of time with the ball and with Harden being the veteran leading the team, all signs point towards an exit for Westbrook.
The 2016-17 MVP and nine-time All-Star is owed $132 million over the next three seasons with a further $46.7 million option coming in the near future.
“For the last eight years or so, our goal has been to win a championship because we had James Harden,” Stone said. “We’ve still got James Harden. Our goal is still to win a championship. If you’ve got him, you’re halfway there.” We’ll see,” newly appointed general manager Rafael Stone claimed
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