Russell Westbrook's blockbuster move to the Los Angeles Lakers has to be one of the most significant transactions of what has been an absolutely action-packed offseason for the NBA. Russ' shock move to Hollywood took more than a few folks by surprise, and it can definitely be considered as a landscape-shifting type of deal.

Washington Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard recently opened up about how the blockbuster trade went down. According to the high-ranking Wizards executive, there was no bigger motivation for him to greenlight the deal than Westbrook's personal desire to join the Lakers:

“That was a very, very unusual circumstance where the day before the draft we were kind of spitballing some ideas and getting some input. I had a heart-to-heart with Russell and it was important to him that I knew and the Wizards knew he wants to play here,” Sheppard said, via Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. 

“If there was ever an opportunity with the Lakers, that would be the one place. I look at his Hall of Fame career and all he did for us, certainly, for me, I will try to help a guy as long as it helps the Wizards. In this case, we could do a deal and it did help the Wizards.”

Simply put, Westbrook wanted to make the move to LA and the Wizards did not get in his way. The Lakers also offered a massive package in exchange for the former league MVP and in the end, it was a win-win situation for all parties involved. Sheppard also agrees that it was too good an offer to turn down:

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“If that deal didn’t go through, Russ would still be playing for us and we would all be happy. That opportunity presented itself and it was a great deal for both sides and it made a lot of sense for both of us. I wish him the very best,” Sheppard said.

It is worth noting, however, that this recent statement from Sheppard is contrary to how Wizards owner Ted Leonsis views the deal. Leonsis had a bit of a parting shot for Westbrook for allegedly forcing a trade out of Washington. Either Sheppard and Leonsis aren't on the same page, or perhaps there's just more to this that we're being led to believe.