John Wall, Rockets Agree Trade Is In Best Interests

John Wall and the Rockets are working together on a trade centered on the veteran point guard, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Wall will continue to remain “around” the Rockets until a deal is reached, as NBA teams continue the trend of paying players not to play, simply to avoid a potential injury that could impact trade value.

“In a meeting between Wall and the Rockets recently, Houston officials explained to Wall the direction of the franchise and that the team wants to protect the veteran guard’s health,” Charania wrote. “The Rockets explained that the team does not want to jeopardize Wall’s fitness, and the sides agreed on the route that won’t complicate his ability to continue playing at a high level.”

Wall, 31, is 6-foot-3 and appeared in 40 games last season, his first with the Rockets. He averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists and was a leader and professional in a losing situation.

Houston is currently undergoing a rebuild with younger guards such as No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr.

But it won’t be easy to trade Wall, as he still has two years and $91.7 million left on his contract. That includes a player option for $47.4 million in 2022-23.

With Wall coming off some major injuries while with the Wizards, and playing just more than half of the games last season, rival teams may be reluctant to take on that salary.

Either way, it appears that Wall’s days of playing for the Rockets have reached an end.

“As they explore their trade options for Wall, the Rockets will have to lean more heavily on Porter and D.J. Augustin,” wrote Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors. “Charania indicates the team has also held discussions with free agent point guards in recent days, suggesting another player could be added to the mix at the position.”