Former Rockets coach and current NBA broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy says he is “fascinated” by Houston’s blockbuster offseason trade to swap Chris Paul (and draft considerations) for Russell Westbrook.
Van Gundy, who coached the Rockets from 2003 through 2007 and still lives in the city when he isn’t broadcasting, spoke to local media this week at Texans’ training camp in Houston.
“I am so fascinated by what Daryl [Morey] has done in bringing Westbrook in,” Van Gundy said in his interviews. “Westbrook is in his prime, and I think he’s going to have a very good year. … I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds,”
When asked about his “gut feel” on how the Westbrook-Harden pairing will work, Van Gundy said he believes the timing is right.
“You have to get stars at the right time and in the right frame of mind,” Van Gundy explained. “I think Westbrook and Harden are at the right time in their careers to sacrifice, not only for each other but for the good of the team.”
Van Gundy also made clear throughout his interviews with KHOU’s Matt Musil and Fox 26’s Mark Berman that he didn’t want Paul’s contributions to be overlooked amid the Westbrook excitement.
“I was a huge Chris Paul fan and still am,” Van Gundy said. “I thought Chris had a remarkable two-year run, and I don’t want to overlook that. I think Daryl did the right thing acknowledging that at the Westbrook press conference. Chris Paul, minus the injury, had a special run here.”
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