The Wall-Westbrook trade: Was there a winner?
Last week’s trade between the Rockets and the Wizards involving Russell Westbrook and John Wall did not come as much of a surprise to NBA fans, as both stars wanted to leave their respective organizations. Although many saw this as a lateral move for both teams, there is reason for both teams to be optimistic as well as skeptical of the deal.
Rockets: Reasons to be optimistic
On the surface, the Wall-Westbrook trade may seem like a lateral move, as both are uber-athletic point guards who have, at best, average shooting. However, they are not identical players. For example, Wall is a better 3-point shooter and a less ball-dominant point guard. In his most recent All-Star season, he shot an impressive 43.8% on catch-and-shoot threes, while Westbrook shot only 29.1%. Though Wall’s overall 3-point percentages aren’t impressive, the Rockets will likely only ask him to make open threes, as James Harden, Christian Wood and DeMarcus Cousins should attract much of the defense. Assuming Harden comes back into the mix for Houston, Wall’s more reliable 3-point shooting (as compared to Westbrook’s), his impressive floor vision and Harden’s elite shot-making ability should be a potent mixture for Houston. Moreover, the Rockets’ recent acquisitions of Cousins and Wood should elevate Wall’s game. Every effective floor general needs weapons, and Wall has arguably never had a better supporting cast than this upcoming season’s Rockets. Furthermore, Cousins and Wall are known as best friends and were college teammates. Though this relationship may not seem like much, chemistry is one of the biggest determining factors of success in sports, and that rapport will likely help Houston.
Rockets: Reasons to be skeptical
While Wall has apparently looked “really good” in training camp, the new Rockets head coach, Stephen Silas, admitted that he was “a little rusty.” Although I believe Wall will be an effective floor general this season, it is very possible he will look like a shell of himself. An Achilles injury is arguably one of the most serious injuries a basketball player can sustain. It is a tall task for any athlete to overcome. Wall is also not getting any younger, as he is already 30 years old and has not played in more than 42 games in a season since the 2016-17 campaign. Moreover, there are a lot of adjustments Wall will have to make. Assuming Harden is with the team, Wall will have to share the ball with one of the most ball-dominant players in NBA history. There were already questions about his fit with Bradley Beal, and Beal’s offensive skill set should be compatible with most players. Furthermore, friendship does not always equal success: Last year’s Rockets squad is a prime example. Although the fit was questionable at best, many thought the Harden and Westbrook pairing would work because they were childhood friends and had played together before. This clearly was not the case, as Houston gave up on that pairing after their first season together. That season, if you remember, ended for the Rockets with a gentleman’s sweep to the Lakers in the second round.
Wizards: Reasons to be optimistic
An old sports proverb says “the best ability is availability.” This proverb applies especially well to the Wizards and Wall: As good as Wall was before his Achilles injury, he hasn’t played basketball since December 2018. While Westbrook and Beal aren’t the most ideal backcourt combination, it is surely better than Beal alone. Also, unlike Wall, Westbrook is not coming off of a significant injury, so there is already less reason for concern. The Wizards’ new backcourt likely won’t produce a championship, but it will make for some exciting basketball and be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs for Eastern Conference powerhouses. This duo should work better than the Harden and Westbrook pairing, as Beal is a more dynamic offensive player than Harden. Beal has a more reliable midrange than Harden, moves off the ball better and is more willing to be a spot-up shooter. Although he isn’t the flat-out scorer Harden is, he will be much more compatible with Westbrook because of his diverse offensive skill set. And even though this is a new team for Westbrook, he will be reunited in Washington with head coach Scott Brooks, whom he played under for six years in Oklahoma City. Westbrook will already be familiar with Brooks’ offensive schemes, and there is long-standing trust between the two dating back to 2008. When the coach trusts the starting point guard and vice versa, it’s usually a good sign for any team.
Wizards: Reasons to be skeptical
Although Westbrook is more likely to be available over the course of a season than Wall, his skill set doesn’t match up with Beal’s any more than Wall’s does. Westbrook has shown an inability to adapt to his team, as his team is usually expected to adapt to his style to be successful. Even Kevin Durant, arguably the best scorer of all time, was forced to adapt to Westbrook. Westbrook also played with a top three MVP candidate in Paul George and a great supporting cast for two years, and yet the Thunder could not even get past the first round. Though all of the blame should not fall on Westbrook’s shoulders should this experiment not work, there is reason to believe that it won’t.
Justin Kim covers women’s basketball. Contact him at justinkim@dailycal.org.