Russell Westbrook John Wall traded in Houston-Washington deal

Houston has pulled the trigger on a mega-trade with Washington which will see two All Stars switch teams immediately.

Russell Westbrook is on the move. Photo: AFP

NBA superstar Russell Westbrook has been pawned off to Washington in a high-stakes trade with the Wizards.

According to ESPN, the Wizards and Houston pulled the trigger on the monster deal on Thursday (AEDT) in a trade that will see Westbrook join Washington immediately in exchange for All Star John Wall and a protected first-round draft pick in 2023.

The Rockets have been in free-fall in 2020 with star scorer James Harden also reportedly knocking back the richest deal in the history of the NBA in a reported attempt to force a trade to the Brooklyn Nets.

Coach Mike D’Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey also left this year.

Westbrook’s potential move to Washington was revealed two weeks ago with reports the two teams were negotiating over the final details of the trade.

The Rockets managed to force the Wizards to cough up a future first round pick to put the cherry on top of the trade offer for Westbrook.

The report was followed by a post by The Athletic’s Shams Charania which had further details of the deal.

Russell Westbrook got his wish.

“Source confirms: Houston traded Russell Westbrook to the Wizards for John Wall and a 2023 protected first-round pick,” Charania posted.

The New York Knicks and the Charlotte Hornets were also reportedly chasing Westbrook, but couldn’t offer a better deal than Washington.

Westbrook’s divorce from the Rockets comes after a miserable season where the team failed to find a balance between its two superstars in Westbrook and Harden.

It’s why reports emerged two weeks ago Westbrook wanted out to return to a role as the focal point of a team.

Wall, meanwhile, will link-up with former college teammate and former NBA All Star DeMarcus Cousins after the Rockets confirmed his signing on Wednesday.

As reported by The New York Post, Westbrook averaged 27.2 points per game last season, and has two years (plus an option for 2022-23) left of an absurd five year, $279 million ($US206,794,070) contract.

If Washington were to pick up his option for that season, Westbrook would be owed over $47 million, per Spotrac.

The 30-year-old Wall missed the entirety of last season due to injury, and combined for just 73 regular season games in the two years prior. Wall is currently in the second of a four-year, $171,131,520 contract, with an option for the last season that would cost the Rockets over $47 million too.

Despite Westbrook’s departure from Houston and James Harden’s apparent desire to join Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, the Rockets are not intent on blowing it up.

A team source told ESPN the team expects to be competitive this season and doesn’t envision a scenario where Harden is traded before the opener.

Originally published as Russell Westbrook John Wall traded in Houston-Washington deal