| | Does anybody win in Paul for Westbrook swap?
Joseph Casciaro
5 hrs ago
Another day, another blockbuster transaction in the NBA, as the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder swapped future Hall of Fame point guards Thursday evening.
After a season of reported discontent between Chris Paul and James Harden in Houston, the Rockets shipped Paul - along with two first-round draft picks and two more pick swaps - to Oklahoma City in exchange for Russell Westbrook.
From a team-building perspective, the trade is a coup for the Thunder. Sam Presti somehow turned Westbrook's contract - which has up to four years and roughly $171 million remaining on it - into Paul's slightly less damaging three-year, $124-million pact and control of Houston's first-rounders in 2021, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
If you're keeping track at home, Presti has turned Westbrook, Paul George, and Jerami Grant into 12 first-round picks or pick swaps between 2020 and 2026 within the span of six days. Remember, too, that in addition to acquiring its point guard of the future, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, from the Clippers in the George deal, Oklahoma City also landed Danilo Gallinari, whose offensive skill set and $22.6-million expiring contract should easily fetch the Thunder another asset or two.
Presti can also dig into that treasure trove of assets to entice a contender to take Paul's contract off their hands ( Pat Riley, line 1), which would complete OKC's rapid, stunning pivot into a full-blown rebuild.
From a shrewd business perspective, the Thunder make off like bandits. However, the truth is that no one involved in this deal emerges victorious.
continues at msn.com |
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