What Westbrook’s exit means for James Harden future with the Rockets

What does the Houston Rockets’ trade of  Russell Westbrook for John Wall mean for James Harden’s future with the franchise?

The Houston Rockets blockbuster trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards in exchange for John Wall and a first-round pick has sent shockwaves throughout the league. It was known that Westbrook had been angling for a move away but with training camp set to begin, it was thought that Westbrook would spend one more season in Houston before the situation would be reevaluated.

In the end the Rockets decided to cut-bait and bring an end to the Russell Westbrook experiment in Houston. For most franchises, losing a player of Westbrook’s quality would be the biggest story of the offseason but this move takes second place to another Rocket’s strained relationship with management.

James Harden, earlier in the offseason, requested to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets. The move never materialized because the Nets weren’t comfortable meeting Houston’s asking price and the Rockets weren’t about to be low-balled for a legitimate MVP contender.

With Russell Westbrook’s departure, all eyes will be on Harden. Will the three-time scoring champ sit out until his demands are met? Will he play but only half-heartedly? Could it be that Harden wanted Westbrook out? Let’s take a look at how Russell Westbrook’s exit could impact James Harden.

Next: Would Harden sit out?