For the past couple of days, there have been plenty of rumors regarding Russell Westbrook’s next move, as the former MVP and Scoring Champion reportedly demanded to be traded away from the Houston Rockets.
And, while no contending teams are showing interest in Westbrook, it seems like Michael Jordan really wants to bring his Jordan brand ambassador to the Charlotte Hornets, according to a report by Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer:
“Since it was reported that Westbrook wants out, the Hornets have emerged as the most likely team to land him. Front office sources tell me Michael Jordan wants the 2016-17 MVP, which is unsurprising and understandable. Westbrook would put eyes on televisions and fans in the seats (once they’re able to safely return). Charlotte would win more games, too. But those same sources add that the Hornets won’t put the no. 3 pick in Wednesday’s draft on the table for Westbrook, so the organization is clearly not overly zealous to make a deal,” O’Connor reported.
Moreover, O’Connor added that the Hornets wouldn’t mind giving away their highly-coveted first-round pick, and that they could also even include some of their young players to sweeten the deal:
“But not including the no. 3 pick isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker. The Hornets have plenty of options to tempt the Rockets. They also have the 32nd pick in Wednesday’s draft—which is loaded with role players, not top talent—as well as all of their future first-round picks, which hold value if the Hornets don’t win as many games as they hope. They also have some young players who could appeal to the Rockets, such as P.J. Washington, Miles Bridges, and Devonte’ Graham,” he concluded.
The Houston Rockets will also reportedly look to trade James Harden after he demanded a trade as well, with the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets are his likeliest destinations.
It’s been a hell of a run for the Houston Rockets, but it seems like the time for a rebuild has come and their All-Stars must move on to try and win an NBA Championship before their careers are over.
