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John Wall and the Houston Rockets agreed to find the veteran a new team. Which teams would actually be interested in taking him on?
On Sep. 14, John Wall and the Houston Rockets mutually agreed to find a new team for Wall, according to a report from The Athletic. However, for the 31-year-old point guard finding that perfect trade partner might come with some complications.
The former All-NBA guard came to Houston from Washington in exchange for Russell Westbrook. Wall spent the first 10 years of his career in Washington, where he was a five-time All-Star but had dealt with a series of injuries from 2016 until he was traded.
During Wall’s lone season in Houston, despite putting up similar numbers as his previous years in Washington, he only appeared in 40 games. But health isn’t the only thing in his way.
Due to make $91 million over the next two years, Wall has one of the league’s most unfriendly contracts. The Rockets will have to find a team with that type of cap space and one willing to take on the oft-injured 31-year-old floor general, who, when available, can contribute every night.
Wall’s numbers last year demonstrated that he’s still very capable of producing at a high level with averages of 21 points, 7 assists and 4 boards a game. For some teams in need of that savvy veteran floor general, he can be that guy. For teams hoping to build around young guards, he may also be able to provide mentorship and guidance like Chris Paul in Oklahoma City and Pheonix.
Wall’s hefty contract prevents him from being a buyout option but that should be ideal for him, as a buyout would allow him to sign with a team that wants him for much cheaper.
But let’s take a look at five teams that should trade for Wall.