There has been a lot of chatter about what will come of the situation between former NBA All-Star John Wall and the Houston Rockets. The two sides agreed that Wall wouldn’t play in games this season, as the Rockets would seek a trade to send him to a new team so that he could get back on the court.
The trade deadline came and went and Wall remained on the Rockets, which wasn’t too surprising. Unwilling to include draft compensation to move him, Wall was unlikely to be on the move. His exorbitant contract was the main deterrent.
The possibility of a buyout was brought up but quickly shot down. With a player option for the 2022-23 season, Wall was never going to recoup the more than $47 million he is set to make next season.
Figuring out where he may land next is certainly difficult. He isn’t injured, so sitting out another full season after going two years between NBA games already doesn’t sound ideal for Wall. If there was no traction this year on a move, it is hard to imagine there will be in the offseason. The only thing working in his favor is that he will then be on an expiring deal.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Lakers-Rockets Trade Is Focused On Wall, Westbrook
The Los Angeles Lakers were the only team mentioned as a possible trade candidate for John Wall. Other teams, such as the LA Clippers and Miami Heat, were mentioned as possibilities but only if he were to be bought out.
One other team to keep an eye on in the Wall sweepstakes is his former team, the Washington Wizards. Over at The Athletic, David Aldridge shared that Wall would welcome a return to Washington should the opportunity arise.
“If it can plausibly be argued that the [Los Angeles] Lakers would benefit by getting Wall from Houston for Russell Westbrook, a potential trade rumored to have been discussed before the trade deadline, why wouldn’t the Wizards also improve by re-emigrating their former five-time All-Star?” Aldridge wrote. “Wall would welcome a return to the team that took him with the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft. It’s something he recently discussed with people close to him and around the league.
“‘That … is true,’ one NBA source said Tuesday.”
After trading Spencer Dinwiddie, along with Davis Bertans, to the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the deadline for Kristaps Porzingis, the Washington Wizards certainly need a point guard once again. Raul Neto has been starting recently with Ish Smith backing him up.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Lakers-Rockets Trade Is Focused On Wall, Westbrook
Upgrading there would go a long way toward the Washington Wizards climbing back up the standings next season and returning to relevancy. Relying on Wall to do that would certainly be risky, but it could be a worthwhile chance for Washington to take.
They would have one of the biggest boom and bust gaps in the league putting a trio of John Wall, Beal, and Porzingis together in the Eastern Conference. It could produce some excellent basketball, but if they all struggle with injuries, the results could be disastrous.
