Russell Westbrook reportedly wants to leave Houston
Russell Westbrook has reportedly informed the Rockets that he wants to be dealt after just one season of playing with James Harden.
Russell Westbrook wants out of Houston, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
That makes for a sticky situation for a Houston Rockets team in win-now mode with a new head coach, and few assets available to improve the roster with the start of the 2020-21 NBA season a little more than a month away from tip off.
Earlier in the day on Wednesday, an ESPN report surfaced about Russell Westbrook and James Harden expressing concern about the direction of the franchise moving into the upcoming season. Hours later, Charania dropped the report that Westbrook has informed Houston officials that he’s uneasy with the Rockets’ accountability and culture, as well as a desire to return to a role similar to the floor general role he had over the first 11 years of his career in Oklahoma City.
It’s too soon to say what this might imply for Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas, who took over for Mike D’Antoni on October 28. James Harden, the franchise’s star player, is reportedly “locked in” for the next campaign, according to Charania and Kelly Iko, but it’s obvious that Silas may be navigating rough waters in Houston before the season even begins.
It’s interesting that the most recent information doesn’t fully match the optimistic impression
“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.”
Silas mentioned that his plan for the upcoming season involved “tweaks” but not wholesale changes to Houston’s offensive system, which is heavily dependent on isolation with Harden. Harden and Westbrook led the NBA last season in isolation points, possession and frequency, and the Rockets ranked No. 1 in the league in isolation.
