Report: Houston Rockets viewed Russell Westbrook’s trade request as a ‘blessing in disguise’

The Houston Rockets traded star guard Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday for John Wall and a first-round pick.

While Westbrook’s trade request earlier this offseason seemed to put Houston in a tough spot, the Rockets reportedly viewed it as a “blessing in disguise,” according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor.

“The Rockets’ new front office searched far and wide for Westbrook destinations as soon as he expressed that he didn’t want to be there anymore, according to multiple league sources,” O’Connor wrote. “Houston viewed Westbrook’s desire to leave as a blessing in disguise. Trading him provides another opportunity to make Harden happy again.”

Harden reportedly preferred Wall over Westbrook as his teammate this season.

The Rockets will now move forward with a duo of Wall and Harden, and they added a first-round pick while they were at it.

Houston is looking to make a run in what will be a tough Western Conference this season.

As for Westbrook, he will get a chance to play alongside another star in Washington’s Bradley Beal.