Wall to sit while team attempts to deal him
Not playing veteran will allow growth of younger players
A changing of the guard is officially underway for the Rockets as John Wall and the team have agreed that the five-time All-Star point guard will not play for Houston during the upcoming NBA season, Wall’s agent told the Chronicle.
Wall will be at Rockets training camp later this month but is expected to sit out the season while he and the team work together on a trade, agent Rich Paul said in a text message Tuesday. The Rockets signed four firstround picks from this year’s draft, including the No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green, to complement their core of young players including Kevin Porter Jr., Christian Wood, K.J. Martin and Jae’Sean Tate. Wall, entering his second season in Houston, is a 31-year-old veteran whose career stage does not mesh with the franchise’s rebuilding vision.
The decision to sit Wall this season, first reported by The Athletic, allows him to preserve his health for an eventual trade. Wall has two years and $91.68 million remaining on his contract, including $44.3 million owed this season and a
$47.4 million player option for the 2022-23 season. The size of his contract, in combination with Wall’s injury history, might complicate the Rockets’ ability to move him.
According to a person with knowledge of the situation, there are no talks of a buyout and the Rockets are unlikely to move Wall before the February trade
deadline barring an injury to a team that suddenly needs help at the guard spot. The Rockets are “leaning into the future,” the source said, and want to help Wall land at a desirable spot while remaining open to acquiring players that can help them win now.
Wall came to Houston last December as part of the Russell Westbrook deal
with Washington after missing nearly two full seasons due to injury. A series of additional injuries following the All-Star break limited Wall to playing just 40 games for the Rockets. He averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists per game on 40.4 percent shooting, and 31.7 percent 3-point shooting.
The Rockets were facing the question of how to use
Wall on the ball in conjunction with Eric Gordon, Green and Porter Jr., who has long stated he sees himself as the franchise’s future point guard. Rookie Josh Christopher, who Houston drafted with the 24th pick, could break into the backcourt rotation as well.
Playing Wall too much would ostensibly limit development opportunities
for the younger players. With the current arrangement, however, Wall could continue to provide valuable leadership and guidance at training camp without eating up game minutes.