Duane Burlson / Associated Press
We are going to find an NBA agreement that is truly non-negotiable.
John Walls, the guardian of the Washington Wizards, has about 3 133 million left over the next three seasons and has been stuck with game action for almost two full calendar years.
The request, which has now been made public, comes amid discussions between Washington and the Houston Rockets, proving that at least one team responded to the potential trade deal with something other than a fit of laughter and a quick hangover. Talks stopped, but at least there was talk. It’s something.
He says, however, that the agreement on the offer, Russell Westbrook‘O, like Wall Wall is very vaguely on the short list of deals. Wizards and rockets were essentially discussing the possibility of expensive problems being exchanged.
That’s where we have to start our search for sensible landing places: with the same teams that deal equally ugly on their own books. From there, maybe we can expand the list to include desperate organizations to create splashes.
New York Knicks
Jason DeCro / Associated Press
The New York Knicks did not notice their void at the point of the draft, instead opting for local production OB Toppin with the No. 8 pick. If they don’t land Fred Vanville at free agency, the prospect of a season-starting prospect with Frank Natilicina and Dennis Smith Jr. as the only point guards on the roster will spur a decision.
Throw out Nutilikina, Julius Randall and Kevin Knox II in the package, and at the moment the Knicks, who have the cap space, will be able to take back the money from Wall without issuing it. The only question then is how much draft capital and Washington Washington will have to be involved in the deal.
2021 and 2023, maybe a pair of first round elections may be enough.
If he still has an old burst in the wall, he can add a little excitement to the team he needs. Toppin is a strong finisher, and its transition skills will well complement the open floor motion of the wall. Again, he’s assuming Wall still has a little interest.
In general, you could argue that Wall Street would provide electricity to Madison Square Garden. That would give Knicks fans something to cheer on. But without fans in the stands, a good chunk of the potential appeal in New York would disappear.
Orlando Magic
Alex Brandon / Associated Press
The wall will not help the Rlando Magic moderation treadmill, but maybe it will at least make the jog more interesting.
Orlando’s offense has been incredible, ranking third at the bottom of the league in every 100 ownership points over the last four seasons. In addition to giving Magic a big name on Mercury, Wall Scall could also bring in some scoring punches.
The point guard’s support percentage is in the 92nd percentile of its position per year or more on its position, so Orlando may experience a lack of ball movement and convenience. And with the right pull on Nikola Vusevic 5, Wall’s incredible jumper, doesn’t spoil the distance too badly.
Considering Magic is just a year away from the show run by Markle Fultz and her less trustworthy show, the lack of Wall Street shooting wouldn’t seem like such a big deal.
Fultz and Aaron Gordon may be key pieces in the trade package, although Land Relando had to find a few more dollars for the money work. And like the Knicks fantasy, this will probably come in the form of a draft return, which will demand money from the Magic Wall.
A decade ago Washington sent Gilbert Arenas on Magic. Injured and disgruntled Wizards are scratching for Orlando’s second shot at the point guard.
Houston Rockets
I’ll be honest: I don’t see how Wall makes more sense in Houston than in Westbrook. But the two have basically the same contract, and neither does he want to be in his current squad. The Wall-for-Rush exchange makes a lot of sense at once and makes no sense.
Not that Westbrook has the cleanest health bill, but given Wall Wall’s injury history, it’s actually possible for the Rockets to get back some of the draft picks that surrendered in recent business. Think about securing the wall and the first suitable for Westbrook.
Westbrook will come up with many similar fit issue walls brought in rockets. He said Wall Wall shot 37.1 per cent from its last semi-healthy year, 2017-18. For his career it is .42..4 per cent, which looks very good when measured against Westbrook, who has failed to break 30.0 per cent in each of his last three seasons.
Defensively, Wall has always been better than Rush. Even if Achilles breaks out in a big way in 30 years of haste, history suggests that Wall will at least try to protect his man and focus on the plan, both of which cannot be consistently said about Westbrook.
If James Harden leaves first, all of a sudden Houston finds it easy to build a team led by a wall around anything he gets. Squint, and you can see something interesting leading the Wall Mad-Over Rockets squad.
Perhaps, after leaving the league, both the Rockets and the Wizards will realize that they have no better options. It’s a vague idea, but apart from shooting, trying to trade a pair of athletics-based point guards over the age of 30 is a vague task.
Statistics courtesy of NBA.com, Basketball Re Reference and Cleaning Glass. Salary information by Basketb Ins insiders.
