Wall preparing, still not playing
Veteran guard John
Wall is still not playing for the Rockets, but he will spend the next few weeks getting ready.
If that leads to Wall moving into the Rockets’ rotation in some capacity remains to be determined, but it’s moving in that direction.
“Rafael (Stone, the Rockets general manager) and I did meet with John (on Sunday) and he had indicated that he wants to play and work toward that so right now we’re in that phase as far as getting him back in game shape,” Rockets coach Stephen
Silas said. “He’s been doing a lot of one-on-oh type stuff and one-on-one type stuff but nothing up and down, noting four-onfour, five-on-five.
“Right now is the rampup time. That’ll probably take a couple weeks. We’ll continue our conversations and try to determine what it looks like.”
Wall said before the season that he agreed with the Rockets’ plan to have him sit out while they seek a deal to trade him so that they could place the emphasis on developing their young guards, primarily
Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green. He has since begun lobbying directly to Stone and on social media to alter the plan and begin playing.
Silas said the ongoing conversations would determine if he plays and that the topic of his role came up relatively briefly on Sunday.
“That’s part of the discussions we’re going to be having,” Silas said. “Yesterday was discussion No. 1. That was very much centered around him getting to a place he can play in an NBA game. He’s in great shape.
“He is diligent as far as his work. He’s been positive and all that stuff. But as far as getting in game shape, our guys have had training camp and they’ve been practicing and they had games. He hasn’t had any of that. Right now it’s about getting him to that point.”
The Rockets have become shorthanded in the backcourt even with Monday’s move to bring rookie guard Josh Christopher
(along with guard Daishen Nix and forward Usman
Garuba) back from the G League during the Vipers’ break in the schedule.
With Green out at least for the remainder of the week with a hamstring injury, backup guard D.J.
Augustin is out while in health and safety protocols. Because Augustin is vaccinated, contact would not have led to him being placed in the health and safety protocols, indicating he returned a breakthrough positive or an inconclusive test.
From a coaching standpoint, Silas said it would be a goal to have Wall be ready and available to help, though he said there are additional considerations.
“Yeah, if he’s able to play,” Silas said. “It has to be good for everybody. It has to be good for him. It has to be good for our organization. It has to be good for our group. There’s more to it than just one conversation and getting ready to play and now you play.
“There’s what does the role look like? What does it look like for the group? What does it look like for everybody? We’re at stage one.”
With Silas and Rockets players often citing Wall’s support and guidance, Silas said the situation has not been a distraction any way. He acknowledged, however, that could change.
“I would say as it gets closer maybe it could become more of a deal,” Silas said, “but right now, not a big deal.”
Wall’s very public and forceful lobbying efforts would seem to have the potential to create anxiety about the issue and the eventual decision. Silas joked that he was tempted to send Wall into a game when Wall was on the bench in a red sweatsuit.
Still, the plan has not changed. The Rockets have not removed Wall’s redshirt. But after Sunday’s talks, they will take at least the first steps in that direction. “We’re very committed to the process that we kind of established on media day when John and Rafael were on stage and kind of told what the plan was,” Silas said. “The plan is shifting, adjusting. We have to shift, adjust accordingly.
“It’s a deal. I wouldn’t say it’s a big deal. It’s one of those things you have to deal with. I’m not going to sit here and say it’s not something I think about. After two weeks, I’m going to really have to … get with Rafael, get with John and really figure out what this looks like.”
3 from Vipers join roster
The Rockets on Monday recalled Christopher, Garuba and Nix from their NBA G-League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
The 4-16 Rockets play five of their next six games at home. The G-League Vipers, who are off to an 8-0 start to the season, do not play again until Dec. 7.
Christopher and Garuba, both rookies drafted by the Rockets in the first round, started the season in Houston and were assigned to the G League earlier this month to get more playing time. Nix, who is on a two-way contract, has played in all eight of the Vipers’ games.