With training camp just a few weeks away, the NBA world is starting to buzz again. On Tuesday, we learned that John Wall will reportedly not be playing for the Houston Rockets again. After a recent meeting between the veteran point guard and the club, both sides agreed that the parting ways would be mutually beneficial.
For now, the Rockets are only looking at a business, and have no plans for a buyout in the works. Wall will be present for training camp and will be with the team to maintain his fitness until the Rockets figure out a trade. However, no one knows when this will happen.
When you consider the age of the wall, injury history, declining play and large contracts, it is very difficult to pull off a trade. That is to say, nothing can be said about the possibility that Wall would prefer to go to a contender at this stage of his career, which would further complicate matters.
According to a report by ESPN's Tim McMahon, the Rockets are expected to "correct" Wall by, further evidence that they will try to trade him in a winning position. As an exercise, start by running through some of the better teams.
He's not going to the Nets or Bucks, the Celtics wouldn't want to take that kind of money, the Hawks have Trae Young, the Heat traded for Kyle Lowry and the Knicks added Kemba Walker. West out, the Jazz and Sun re-signed Mike Connelly and Chris Paul respectively, the Warriors have Steph Curry, Damien Lillard still wants to play for the Trail Blazers and the Wall doesn't make sense for the Nuggets. Admittedly, it would be hilarious for the Lakers to launch another wall-for-Russell Westbrook swap, but we can also dismiss them.
As you can see, you start running out of teams very quickly. The old cliché is that there really are no unenforceable contracts in the NBA, but Wall can put it to the test. He is no longer his former All-NBA self, but is still being paid that way; The only player set to make more than him over the next two seasons is Curry. Any team interested in trading for him would not only have to be prepared to fit the bill, but would also need a substantial matching salary to pull off the trade.
Neither side is interested in the buyout because the Rockets are hoping to get something back for Wall, and they don't want to give up any of their money. But if a deal isn't available in the next few months, and both sides start itching to find a way out, they may have to take that route.
But for now, with a business being the preferred option, here's a look at some of the possible fits they could be:
- Los Angeles Receives: John Volu
- Houston Receives: Eric Bledsoe, Luke Kennard, Filler Pay
This may be the only situation where you can make the case that a trade will be welcomed by both the team and the vol. With Kawhi Leonard being sidelined for at least the upcoming season, the Clippers will need some help, while Wall will welcome the chance to play for the playoffs again.
Flipping Bledsoe, which they just acquired this offseason, won't be a problem for the Clippers, and they could exit under a cumbersome Kennard contract in the process. If healthy, Wall will provide some additional scoring and playmaking that could help the Clippers stay competitive without Leonard.
The Rockets themselves could try to overturn Bledsoe, but even if they can't, his contract for 2022–23 is only partially guaranteed, which will save him money. Meanwhile, Kennard is still small enough to fit into their reconstruction. Either way, there are some potential values here for Houston.
- Dallas receives: John Wall, first round pick
- Houston Receives: Kristaps Porzingis, Filler Pay
Another Western Conference team that could take a chance on the Wall is the Mavericks. Luka Doncic is already one of the best players in the league, but we saw during the playoffs that his talent is the only thing the team has ever achieved. If Maw really wants to make some noise they need more help.
At first glance, the doncic-wall fit can be a bit tricky when they are on the floor together. Wall actually shot 38.1 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s last season, and would give the Mavericks a much-needed secondary playmaker and scorer. Whether it is worth abandoning Porzingis is another question.
Neither the Mavericks nor the older men are thrilled with how things have gone since they received it from the Knicks. In theory he is very fit with Doncic, but we have only seen the partnership grow rapidly. In last season's playoffs, Porzingis was largely irrelevant.
While Porzingis has struggled in recent seasons and may not stay healthy, he is still an attractive youngster whom the Rockets can try to turn in their rebuilds or send elsewhere for other pieces.
- Philadelphia receives: John Wall, first-round pick from Houston, first-round pick from Sacramento
- Houston Receives: Buddy Heald, Marvin Bagley III
- Sacramento Receives: Ben Simmons, Filler Pay Money From Sixers To Work
A direct swap between the Sixers and the Rockets seems impossible for a few reasons, namely that the Rockets could have Ben Simmons in the James Harden deal last year if they really wanted him. Still, when Simmons is trying to force his exit from Philadelphia, you've got to at least get the Sixers into the conversation here. To do so, what about a potential three-team trade involving the Sacramento Kings – a team that Simmons has been in the mix about?
Of course, it all hinges on the Sixers who really want Wall, and it's unclear whether they do. Or if they're willing to take that kind of comeback for Simmons. But with his trading value declining day by day, and his threats of a holdout on the team, the Sixers have to take what they can get. If they drop Simmons, however, they will only need assets other than Wall, perhaps a first-round pick from each club.
The interest of the kings here is well known. They can get an All-Star for the two players they've been trying to trade for a while and get selected in the first round. Even in a tough Western Conference, Simmons' arrival would give him a playoff spot for the first time since 2006.
For the Rockets, there will be a solid return for Heald and Bagley Wall. Heald is a player that many contenders want, and can easily be flipped over for more possessions to continue rebuilding. Meanwhile, Bagley fits his timeline and still has a lot of talent, even if he hasn't lived up to his potential.