Chris Paul-Russell Westbrook Trade Cited as 'Haunting Deal' for Rockets

Chris Paul-Russell Westbrook Trade Remains a Haunting Deal for the Rockets

The Houston Rockets have long completed their rebuild phase, which is no longer a topic of discussion. They continue to hold valuable draft picks, largely due to the James Harden trade with the Brooklyn Nets in 2021. This trade secured the Phoenix Suns' first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 for Houston.

However, Houston’s 2026 first-round pick is set to go to the Oklahoma City Thunder unless it lands in the top four, which would indicate a significantly disappointing season for the Rockets. The obligation to send this pick to the Thunder stems from the 2019 trade that sent Chris Paul to Oklahoma City in exchange for Russell Westbrook, along with the 2024 and 2026 first-round picks and pick swaps for 2021 and 2025.

Houston only benefited from Westbrook for a single season, while Paul’s Thunder team concluded the season with a 44-28 record. The two teams even faced off in the playoffs that year, culminating in a fierce seven-game series.

"In July 2019, the Rockets were clinging to fading hopes of making a championship run with James Harden and tried this deal out of desperation. It effectively flatlined those dreams for good and shifted everything for the franchise. Westbrook was always a strange choice to slot alongside Harden."

Bleacher Report highlights this trade as a major factor still haunting the Rockets in 2025.

Author’s summary: The 2019 Chris Paul-Russell Westbrook trade profoundly impacted the Rockets, costing valuable picks and undermining championship ambitions despite their rebuilding progress.

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Sports Illustrated Sports Illustrated — 2025-11-01

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