Westbrook, Harden set to reunite in NBA
The Oklahoma City Thunder have reportedly traded guard Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets for guard Chris Paul and a pair of first-round draft picks.
Multiple media outlets reported on Thursday the Thunder will receive the Rockets' first-round picks in 2024 and 2026 and the option to swap picks in 2021 and 2025, according to ESPN.
The Athletic's Shams Charania says the first-round picks in 2024 and 2026 will be top-4 protected. The 2021 swap is also protected 1-4, with the Thunder allowed to swap either of their first-rounders received from the Los Angeles Clippers or Miami Heat. The 2025 swap is protected from 1-20.
The move reunites Westbrook, 30, with former Thunder teammate and reigning NBA scoring champion James Harden.
They played together for three seasons from 2009-12, making the playoffs all three years and reaching the NBA Finals in 2012.
Paul, 34, returns to Oklahoma City, where he played his first two NBA seasons (2005-07) when the New Orleans franchise was temporarily relocated after Hurricane Katrina.
An eight-time All-Star and two-time NBA scoring leader, Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the third straight season in 2018-19 with 22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds and a league-high 10.7 assists in 73 games.
A nine-time All-Star and four-time league assists leader, Paul averaged 15.6 points, 8.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 58 games last season.
