The Houston Rockets and John Wall agreed to work together in an attempt to find a commercial destination for the veteran base, as the franchise is committed to moving forward with Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green as their starting back line, sources told ESPN.
The engagement to Porter, 20, and Green, 18, leaves Wall, a five-time All-Star who was traded to Houston in the Russell Westbrook deal last year, without a starting role. Wall, 31, is not expected to play for Houston, as the team’s management and Wall mutually decided that a bank role for him would not be beneficial to either party, the parties said. sources.
Wall is expected to earn $ 91,700,000 over the next two seasons, including a player option for $ 47.4 million in 2022-23, a contract that makes trying to change it extremely difficult. Sources said the Rockets do not want to give up offsetting the first-round draft in a trade-off for Wall and would have no interest in discussing a purchase until possibly after free agency next summer.
Wall has been limited to 113 games in the last four seasons due to a series of major injuries, including an Achilles tendon sprain that left him out throughout the 2019-20 season, the last year with the Washington Wizards. Wall averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists in 40 games for the Rockets last season.
Wall, a No. 1 overall pick, is expected to participate in the training camp and be close to the team while remaining on the Rockets’ roster, sources said. Houston management is optimistic that Wall’s wisdom and leadership could benefit Porter and Green in particular, who join center Christian Wood, 25, as cornerstones of the Rockets’ rebuilding.
Sources said Wall’s relationship with the Rockets’ ownership and management remains strong, as they have been in frequent communication during the off-season. High-ranking Rockets sources expressed deep gratitude for Wall’s leadership during a tumultuous campaign last season, when James Harden’s exchange lawsuit pushed Houston into rebuilding mode and a series of injuries contributed to the fact that the Rockets finished with the worst record in the NBA.
“It’s been a support for us,” a Rockets source said. “It’s been great since he got here.”
Rockets sources stressed that the franchise’s priority is to try to “do the right thing” by veterans looking to play in more competitive situations, citing the exchange of Harden and winger PJ Tucker for contenders last season as to main examples.