Predicting the Top 3 John Wall Destinations

September 15, 2021 , , ,

 

Now that the Houston Rockets and John Wall have agreed to part ways, several teams make sense as a most likely destination for Wall for the 2021-22 season. 

The first, and biggest question: Will the Rockets be able to work out a trade for Wall, who is still owed $44 million this coming season, and $47 million in 2022-23? Very few teams would be willing, or able, to pull that off. 

If that monumental task is not able to be completed, then would a buy-out be on the table? At that point, it opens it up to a number of teams around the league. 

Teams with the most pressing needs for a point guard, and with a win-now attitude would head up the list. 

Los Angeles Clippers

There's a lot of chatter out there about the Clippers. As soon as Wall's availability was announced, it was known that the Rockets had already fielded offers from LA's "other team", and everyone knows about the team's need for a point guard. 

In a trade, though, taking on Wall's $44 mill presents a problem. A couple of big contracts that could be packaged to get somewhere in the vicinity are Eric Bledsoe (acquired this offseason) and his $18 million, plus Luke Kennard's $12.7 million. 

Dallas Mavericks

The new front office of the Mavericks would love to make a splash, and are hoping to find a top ball-handler to take some of that playmaking pressure off superstar Luka Doncic. 

The idea of bringing in Goran Dragic in a trade with Toronto was a hot topic just as free agency began, as the Mavs and Raptors tried in vain to make something work. Dragic and Doncic are Slovenian national team brothers, and that move would have made a lot of sense. But the Mavs' refusal to part with anything of value killed that possibility. 

The idea of adding Wall certainty fills the bill, but in a trade, the only asset that comes close to starting a deal that would match Wall's contract would be Kristaps Porzingis.

Now, if Wall becomes a free agent via a buy-out....

Philadelphia 76ers

This is an intriguing situation. With point guard Ben Simmons on the way out one way or another, the Sixers will be in need of a legit point guard to create and get the ball to Joel Embiid. 

Would GM Daryl Morey entertain a Simmons for Wall swap? It's doubtful, as Morey is still shooting for the moon. 

The other aspect to this is Wall's injury history. The 31-year-old has only averaged 28 games a season over the last 4 years (including missing the entire 2019-20 season). Embiid is also an injury risk, so this combination could be a concern for Philly. 

Other teams said to already have made offers for Wall include the Miami Heat (which doesn't make a ton of sense after their sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry), and the Detroit Pistons. 

Photo Credit: POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports




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