Even though the playoffs are still going on in the NBA the off-season rumor mill is in full effect. The word on the street according to Bleacher Report is that the Houston Rockets are considering trading Russell Westbrook to the Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner and Malcolm Brogdon. It also includes Doug McDermott, Jeremy Lamb, and a lottery protected 2021 first-round pick.
First of all, that would be a great move for the Houston Rockets if they could pull it off. However, it would be a DISASTER for the Indiana Pacers.
It makes all of the sense in the world for the Rockets to get rid of Young Russ and get a 7-foot shot blocker that can run the floor and shoot the three from time to time. Myles Turner is one of the best shot blockers in the league and shows up every night. He’s going to give you 13 points and 7 rebounds every night!! Those are his career numbers. Did I mention that he was darn near 7-feet tall? Not to mention them getting an unprotected first round pick too!!! That’s a great deal for them.
The Rockets figured out real quick that playing small ball against an elite team will get you ran out of the playoffs ASAP.
Malcolm Brogdon would be a great addition to the Rockets too. He’s a consistent scorer that doesn’t mind playing his role. He averaged 17 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists this year for the Pacers. That means that he doesn’t mind sharing the basketball and that he doesn’t play outside of himself.
It all makes sense for the Rockets but the Pacers would be foamin’ at the mouth crazy to trade all of that away for Russell Westbrook. Young Russ is a stat chaser that doesn’t make the teams that he’s played on better. The Rockets are no better with him or without him. He just made it more frustrating to lose in the playoffs.
Before they were losing without having to keep a player calm and now they’re losing trying to keep a player calm. The results are the same.
If you bring Russ into Indiana’s locker room he’s going to take over because there isn’t the Alpha male standing at the door telling him that this is MY team playa. Everybody and their baby’s momma, Uncle LeRoy and cousin Man-Man understood that Houston was James Harden’s team including James Harden.
Is Indiana TJ Warren’s team now or is it still Victor Oladipo’s? Or will Russell Westbrook just walk in and say that since y’all don’t know, it’s mine playa and I’m going to do what I want to do with the basketball. Oh, did I mention that you’ve traded away your consistent shot blocker in Turner and 17 points per game from Brogdon that was cool being in the shadows. Yeah, if the Pacers make that trade it will be a complete dumpster fire in Indiana and you know who told you first. Stop me when I start lyin’!
