Did the Rockets trade Russell Westbrook because he refused to report for training camp?

What was the reason for Russell Westbrook’s sudden trade to Washington?

The Houston Rockets finally traded one of their two superstars, flipping disgruntled point guard Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards in exchange for John Wall and a protected first-round pick. Westbrook, much like James Harden has reportedly been trying to do, has been trying to navigate a way out of Houston for some time, and the latest buzz suggests that his latest stunt was finally enough for the Rockets to pull the plug and send him to DC.

Adam Spolane is reporting that Westbrook never showed up to training camp in Houston, while Harden was spotting in the city around the same time. If Rafael Stone had any doubts about Westbrook’s desire to play in Houston, this move might’ve erased all ambiguity.

Russell Westbrook’s only season in Houston ended in more playoff failure

Despite another strong individual season from Westbrook, in which he averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game, in an offense where Harden dominated the ball, Houston was knocked out in the second round of the postseason. Their lack of size came back to bite them against LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rockets fans can’t exactly rejoice at the fact that they unloaded Westbrook’s supermax contract, as they took on another supermax player in Wall, and their new point guard is also a poor shooter with severe injury problems.

Westbrook thought that he and Harden could find some way to gel, but his decision landed him with both another playoff exit and a trade to a rebuilding Washington team that might not even make the postseason. The only silver lining is the fact that he will get to be “the man” for former Thunder head coach Scott Brooks once again.