Russell Westbrook Trade Rumors: Interest in Rockets Star Low Because of Contract

Unfortunately for Russell Westbrook, he needs at least two willing partners to facilitate any trade away from the Houston Rockets.

The Athletic's Kelly Iko, Sam Amick, and Shams Charania reported Westbrook "wants out of Houston." However, finding a team willing to take on the $132.6 million he's owed might prove difficult.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported the nine-time All-Star has a lukewarm trade market right now due to his contract.

"I've got bad news for him on both of those fronts," Windhorst said on SportsCenter (h/t RealGM). "New coach Stephen Silas has said he does not intend to change the offense very much. I've surveyed a significant part of the league today and I don't think there's a lot of interest in Russell Westbrook trades out there. Not because they don't think he's not much of a player, but because of his contract."

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN confirmed these sentiments, adding that Westbrook's market is "slow developing."

In MLB, franchises can agree to pay a portion of a player's outstanding salary to facilitate a trade. The NBA, on the other hand, limits how much cash can change hands in a transaction.

Right now, Westbrook has one of the worst contracts in the league. John Wall's four-year, $171.1 million supermax extension, which has three years left to run, is the toughest competition.

The 32-year-old Westbrook enjoyed a stretch during the 2019-20 season when he looked like a legitimate MVP contender. From December through February, he averaged 30.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists while shooting 49.2 percent from the field.

However, Westbrook's numbers in the playoffs are what most fans remember. He averaged 17.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists while shooting 24.2 percent from the perimeter. The Rockets had a minus-6.1 net rating with him on the floor, per NBA.com.

Granted, only Westbrook knows the extent to which he was dealing with any lingering effects from his positive COVID-19 test. Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert experienced side effects of the virus months after he tested positive.

Still, the long-term concerns about Westbrook aren't without merit. It's difficult to build a title contender around a ball-dominant guard who's a career 30.5 percent three-point shooter.

The Athletic's report also said he wants to leave Houston partially because he wants to "have a role similar to his prior, floor-general role in Oklahoma City." He seems unwilling to adjust his game to the fact he's getting older and can't attack the basket with the same ferocity he could before.

Last offseason, the Rockets acquired Westbrook amid reported friction between Chris Paul and James Harden. This time around, they lack a clear way to pivot if their relationship with Westbrook has deteriorated beyond a point of no return.