NBA Twitter loses its mind yet again as Russell Westbrook lands in Houston
At some point, the National Basketball Association needs to slow down. Right?
Just as the league was calming down a week after Kawhi Leonard and Paul George upended the Western Conference by heading to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Oklahoma City Thunder took another massive step in their surprise rebuild by trading Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul and another boatload of picks.
Westbrook and James Harden are now reunited in Houston. The Thunder have enough draft picks to make the post-Kevin Garnett trade Boston Celtics blush. Chris Paul could be headed to yet another team. The Western Conference remains a thunderdome of contenders.
As you might expect, NBA Twitter melted down. Again.
DARYL MOREY HAS ENTERED THE CHAT
— Zach Rosen (@ZacharySRosen) July 12, 2019
This offseason is undefeated https://t.co/xhkpSJtDBA
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) July 12, 2019
HOW DID THEY GET ALL OF THAT FOR WESTBROOK???!!!!
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) July 12, 2019
The Thunder have one future first or pick swap for every letter in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's name
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) July 12, 2019
Run it back. pic.twitter.com/T5AKxEEMp9
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 12, 2019
Westbrook and Harden, together again, a whole lot richer now. https://t.co/TKiHbS2vKK
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) July 12, 2019
When Russ and Harden are both an assist away from a triple double pic.twitter.com/K2ulV5elQb
— Kevin 🤷🏾♂️ (@klew24) July 12, 2019
but i wanna get a triple double tonight.
no i do. pic.twitter.com/0DVaB5f7pO— Mike Goldfarb (@MikeGoldFool) July 12, 2019
This is hands down the craziest summer in the history of the NBA and there isn’t even a close 2nd.
— Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) July 12, 2019
The Thunder are going to be INCREDIBLE in 2027
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) July 12, 2019
Kinda crazy to think how much more OKC got for Paul George than they did Russell Westbrook. Lots of reasons to point to, but still. It's like double. https://t.co/MALFW7yFUV
— Chase Hughes (@ChaseHughesNBCS) July 12, 2019
James Harden: pic.twitter.com/7MY0MKGHl1
— Booty Caldwell (@_Myleshigh) July 12, 2019
Presti counting them like https://t.co/q59fASiQyf pic.twitter.com/4yfREAKaVT
— Matt Petersen (@TheMattPetersen) July 12, 2019
Notable duos in the West next season
Rockets: Harden, Westbrook
Warriors: Steph, Draymond (eventually Klay)
Clippers: Kawhi, George
Blazers: Lillard, McCollum
Lakers: LeBron, AD
Jazz: Conley, Mitchell
Nuggets: Murray, Jokic
Mavericks: Doncic, Porzingis
Pelicans: Holiday, Zion
...— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 12, 2019
Houston Texans star J.J. Watt sent out a heartfelt goodbye for Paul, who had an important hand in Watt’s Hurricane Harvey fundraiser.
Gonna miss you @CP3. Not many people know, but CP was literally the first celebrity to reach out and donate to the hurricane fundraiser. He had just recently been traded to Houston, called up and said he wanted to help. Very first one. Absolute legend.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) July 12, 2019
The actual mayor of Oklahoma City also jumped in to share his thoughts on the Thunder’s longest-tenured player heading out.
In the days ahead, there will be much, much, much, much more to say about what Russell Westbrook has meant to OKC. I can’t even begin to process it all now. 💙💙💙
But for tonight... Holy cow, you can’t make this stuff up. We traded our greatest love for our first love. https://t.co/I1gE9DHFBT— Mayor David Holt (@davidfholt) July 12, 2019
And, of course, the league’s players were losing their minds as well. The biggest victim of all might have been recently retired Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, who is now suffering from the most Dwyane Wade problem ever.
All i know is my jersey swap collection is looking kinda bootleg since FA started 😂😂😂. In 20 years ain’t no one believing those players played in those uniforms❤️
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) July 12, 2019
This league boi!!!!
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) July 12, 2019
Wow @dmorey pulled a rabbit out of the hat with this one!
— Jordan Hamilton (@J_Goin_HAM) July 12, 2019
Craziest NBA summer by far... And Summer just started a few wks ago!! WOW...
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) July 12, 2019
— Ryan Hollins (@TheRyanHollins) July 12, 2019
This year about to be littt🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) July 12, 2019
WOW!! https://t.co/4g2Z6UVJfN
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) July 12, 2019
👀
— Eric Gordon (@TheofficialEG10) July 12, 2019
FACTS https://t.co/qMTetPT7ox
— Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) July 12, 2019
cp3 a laker 🤔
— Solomon Hill (@solohill) July 12, 2019
I was interviewing Isaiah Thomas when someone told us the Westbrook-CP3 trade went down. IT's reaction: "DAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMNNNN!!"
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) July 12, 2019
Now if this season could just start already, that would be great.
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