AREA SPORTS FANS ARE mixed about Thursday’s blockbuster deal that sent
Rockets All-Star guard Chris Paul to the Thunder in exchange for fellow All-Star and former league Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook. The Rockets also moved two future first-round picks to get Westbrook, who has averaged a triple-double in each of the past three seasons.
A sampling of reactions:
Kelley Hazen, Former La Marque High School Athletic Trainer: “Rockets just shot themselves in the foot with that trade. Traded away their future for maybe two good years.”
Darren Merryman, TCHS Class of 1989 and longtime Houston sports fanatic: “Ugh.” Earl Alexander, LM City Counselman: “I thought the game of basketball was played with ONE ball on the court. With them, you will need TWO.” Charles Jenkins, Former LMHS and Baylor football player: Both players will play iso ball when they have the rock. I don’t recall either one of them taking every shot for their team, so that ‘not enough balls’ stuff makes y’all sound like some old heads spitting basketball clichés. They will both get off around 25 shots a game and THEY BOTH assist well…don’t be surprised if they make it look easy. Still not a championship team, but they won’t be trash like everybody thinks.”
Jim Tortorici, former Coogs Sports Net broadcaster: “I like better than what
they were about to run with…need a couple more pieces.”
Andrew Martin, Houston area high school sportswriter: “I can’t think of a
worse possible pairing. Their respective games are being ball hogs to a historical extreme.”
Jason Chlapek: “The question is can Westbrook play enough defense for him
and Harden.”
Reportedly, the Rockets are not finished making moves, as they have ap-
proached the Grizzlies about acquiring veteran forward Andre Igoudala (Grizzlies) or waiting to see if the Cavaliers buy out the contract of forward/center
Kevin Love. However, the team did make a move on Friday by signing well-
traveled center Tyson Chandler.
