Chris Paul–Russell Westbrook Trade Cited as 'Haunting Deal' for Rockets
The Houston Rockets’ rebuilding era has long ended, and few talk about it anymore. Despite that, the team still holds several valuable draft assets from past trades.
Legacy of the Harden Trade
Thanks to the James Harden deal with the Brooklyn Nets in 2021, Houston possesses the Phoenix Suns’ 2027 and 2029 first-round picks. Yet their own 2026 first-round selection is slated to go to the Oklahoma City Thunder—unless it falls within the top four, which would signify a disappointing season for the Rockets.
The Westbrook–Paul Swap
This pick situation traces back to the 2019 trade that sent Chris Paul to the Thunder in exchange for Russell Westbrook. Houston also gave up their 2024 and 2026 first-round picks, plus pick swaps in 2021 and 2025. The Rockets received only a single season from Westbrook before he moved on.
Immediate Aftermath
Ironically, that year both the Rockets and Thunder finished with identical 44–28 records and clashed in a fierce seven-game playoff series. The short-lived experiment left a lasting mark on Houston’s roster-building efforts.
“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.”
Lingering Impact
Bleacher Report recently identified that 2019 Westbrook deal as the trade still haunting the Rockets in 2025, a move that continues to shape their present and future draft outlook.
Author’s summary: The 2019 Westbrook-for-Paul trade remains a cautionary tale for Houston, whose lingering draft debts still mirror that misjudged gamble six years later.