John Wall’s struggling episode with the Houston Rockets has finally ended. The veteran guard managed to reach a buyout agreement with the franchise and will now join the Los Angeles Clippers as a free agent.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Wall opted to leave $6.5 million on the table to leave Houston. He was set to earn $47.4 million in salary in 2022-23.

Wall was expected to have multiple suitors in free agency, but the Clippers were his preferred choice from the very beginning. It is easy to understand his decision, as the LA gives him a clear path to competing for the NBA title. The 31-year-old will join forces with All-NBA players Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, immediately forming one of the scariest trios in the Western Conference.

At one point, John Wall was considered one of the best point guards in the league. Playing for the Washington Wizards, he received five All-Star nods between 2014 and 2018 and was selected to All-NBA Third Team in 2017. However, a heel injury during the 2018-19 season and subsequent ruptured Achilles significantly derailed his career.

While recovering, Wall was traded by the Wizards to the rebuilding Rockets. He managed to only play 40 games for Houston before the team shut him down to create playing time for their younger players. As a result, Raleigh, North Carolina, native didn’t play at all in 2021-22.

Wall’s career averages in NBA include 19.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 9.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.

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The Houston Rockets are no closer to trading veteran guard John Wall than they were two months ago when the two sides agreed to part ways. And according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, this might result in Wall sitting out the entire 2021-22 NBA season.

Wall and the Rockets made a mutual decision in September that he won’t play for the organization anymore. Houston is rebuilding and wants to develop their young stars, while the 31-year-old isn’t interested in playing for a rebuilding team. The front office started working the phones while Wall remained around the team, training and serving as a mentor to younger players.

Wojnarowski reports that trading talks Houston had with other teams led nowhere primarily because of Wall’s big contract. The five-time All-Star is owed $44 million this season and has a $47 million option for 2022-23 that he has every intention of picking up. His health also played a part, considering that Wall played only 40 games in the past three years.

There’s always an option for Wall and the Rockets to agree to a contract buyout, but that doesn’t seem to be on the table at the moment. Wall made it clear that he doesn’t intend to engage in any buyout talks at the moment, while Houston also doesn’t seem to be keen on doing that just yet.

John Wall joined the Rockets ahead of the 2020-21 NBA campaign in a trade that saw Russell Westbrook go to the Washington Wizards. Wall ended up playing 40 games last season, averaging 20.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game.

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All-Star point guard John Wall is inching closer to the end of his stint with the Houston Rockets. According to multiple reports, the two sides are currently working on finding a trade that would see Wall departing Houston in the near future.

If there’s no deal to be found when the 2021-22 NBA season tips off, Wall won’t be part of the Rockets’ lineup. He will, however, remain on the team and provide leadership to the team’s young backcourt of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green while he’s there.

Wall arrived in Houston from the Washington Wizards ahead of the 2020-21 NBA season in a trade that saw superstar guard Russell Westbrook head in the opposite direction. Having not played since late 2018, he ended up putting together a solid campaign that saw him average 20.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in 40 games.

While the past season allowed Wall to show that he still can play despite the injuries that spoiled the last four years of his career, the Rockets will have a hard time finding a taker for him. This is mostly due to the massive contract that will pay him $91.7 million in the next two years, counting the $47.4 million player option for 2022-23.

Houston reportedly wants to help Wall find a landing spot but are not ready to attach a first-round pick to do so. Also, sources close to the situation reported that the team is only willing to consider a buyout if Wall isn’t off the team by the end of the upcoming season.

The post John Wall and Rockets Working Together on Finding a Trade appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The departure of superstars James Harden and Russell Westbrook has forced the Houston Rockets to rely on former All-Star guard John Wall to be their best player. And he’s delivered so far.

Despite being out of action for almost two years, Wall has been playing well in his first season with the Rockets. He’s averaging 18.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in 2020-21 while leading the team to seven wins in the last eight games.

This has helped boost Wall’s confidence, who labeled himself as “the franchise guy” for the Rockets after a 115-103 win over Memphis Grizzlies.

“I feel like I’m the franchise guy, now that James [Harden] has left,” said Wall. “You very rarely get the opportunity to be a franchise [guy] in two different cities and two different teams. I feel like that’s my job, to be the leader of this team.”

John Wall joined the Rockets in a trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards over the summer. At the time, it seemed like a bad trade for Houston, as Wall has been struggling with injuries in recent years.

After missing 41 games in 2017-18 due to a knee injury, the 30-year-old star suffered a season-ending heel injury early in 2018-19. During the recovery, he went on to rupture his Achilles and ended up being sidelined for the entire 2019-20 campaign as well.

Still, Wall is looking healthy now, and his performances are giving the Rockets a reason to be optimistic. And it’s safe to say that the franchise needs some optimism after seeing their two best players leave in less than two months.

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The Houston Rockets have granted All-Star guard Russell Westbrook his wish to leave the organization. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets traded Westbrook to the Washington Wizards in exchange for guard John Wall and a protected first-round pick.

The move comes just days after Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard told the media that the franchise doesn’t intend to trade Wall.

Wojnarowski added that the pick included in the trade has several protections through 2026, and if it doesn’t convey, the Rockets are set to receive a second-rounder in 2026 and 2027.

While the Westbrook-Wall swap might come surprising to some, the trade wasn’t entirely unexpected. The Wizards and Rockets engaged in talks several weeks ago, when it became clear that Westbrook wanted out but couldn’t come to an agreement at the time.

Reportedly, Sheppard and Rockets’ GM Rafael Stone resumed negotiations on Tuesday, and this time it was a lot more straightforward talk that concluded on a positive note.

Westbrook joined the Rockets before the 2019-20 season, teaming up with his former OKC Thunder teammate James Harden. However, his time in Houston was marked with injury struggles and the team’s inability to make an impact in the offseason.

Westbrook reportedly didn’t enjoy his time with the organization at all and concluded that he would have been better off elsewhere. He averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game in the regular season but only managed 17.9 points and 4.6 assists in the playoffs.

In Washington, Westbrook will team up with All-Star guard Bradley Beal, while also having his former Thunder coach Scott Brooks on board.

For John Wall, the move to the Rockets represents a chance for a fresh start after two years of injury struggles. Wall played his last game in late 2018 and failed to return to the court since, having dealt with a heal injury and a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The deal might end up working for both the Wizards and Rockets. The Wizards now have a team that can contend in the Eastern Conference, and bringing in Westbrook might convince Beal to commit his future to the franchise.

Rockets, on the other hand, get a player who wants to play in Houston, and this could help them in the long-term if he leaves the injury issues behind. 

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It isn’t a secret that All-Star guard Russell Westbrook wants out of Houston Rockets. Numerous reports have indicated that Westbrook isn’t happy with the direction the organization is headed after parting ways with general manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D’Antoni and would like to continue his career elsewhere.

Several destinations for the 2017’s MVP have been mentioned in recent weeks, including LA Clippers and New York Knicks, but according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, an unexpected contender entered the Westbrook sweepstakes in the past couple of days.

Charania reported on Tuesday that Washington Wizards have shown interest in Westbrook and have already engaged in talks with the Rockets about a potential deal that would see John Wall head in the opposite direction. He also points out that the talks haven’t gained significant traction so far as Houston wants more assets included besides Wall. 

The assets that Rockets ask for are most likely draft picks as there is no need to include another player in the deal to have a salary match. Both Wall and Westbrook are on similar contracts, being scheduled to earn around $132 million in the next three years.

The deal would make sense for the Wizards as they are looking to build around All-Star Bradley Beal and get back to contention after a couple of rough years. While John Wall was once among the most electrifying players in the game, injuries have greatly diminished his impact in recent years. Washington now probably believes he won’t be able to return to being the player he once was.

Russell Westbrook, on the other hand, is still considered to be among the best players in his position despite his shortcomings in the shooting department. Pairing him with Beal and another talent like sharpshooter Davis Bertans would almost guarantee Wizards a playoff spot and probably even a chance to make a deep playoff run.

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John Wall’s struggling episode with the Houston Rockets has finally ended. The veteran guard managed to reach a buyout agreement with the franchise and will now join the Los Angeles Clippers as a free agent.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Wall opted to leave $6.5 million on the table to leave Houston. He was set to earn $47.4 million in salary in 2022-23.

Wall was expected to have multiple suitors in free agency, but the Clippers were his preferred choice from the very beginning. It is easy to understand his decision, as the LA gives him a clear path to competing for the NBA title. The 31-year-old will join forces with All-NBA players Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, immediately forming one of the scariest trios in the Western Conference.

At one point, John Wall was considered one of the best point guards in the league. Playing for the Washington Wizards, he received five All-Star nods between 2014 and 2018 and was selected to All-NBA Third Team in 2017. However, a heel injury during the 2018-19 season and subsequent ruptured Achilles significantly derailed his career.

While recovering, Wall was traded by the Wizards to the rebuilding Rockets. He managed to only play 40 games for Houston before the team shut him down to create playing time for their younger players. As a result, Raleigh, North Carolina, native didn’t play at all in 2021-22.

Wall’s career averages in NBA include 19.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 9.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.

The post John Wall Joining the Clippers as a Free Agent appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Houston Rockets are no closer to trading veteran guard John Wall than they were two months ago when the two sides agreed to part ways. And according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, this might result in Wall sitting out the entire 2021-22 NBA season.

Wall and the Rockets made a mutual decision in September that he won’t play for the organization anymore. Houston is rebuilding and wants to develop their young stars, while the 31-year-old isn’t interested in playing for a rebuilding team. The front office started working the phones while Wall remained around the team, training and serving as a mentor to younger players.

Wojnarowski reports that trading talks Houston had with other teams led nowhere primarily because of Wall’s big contract. The five-time All-Star is owed $44 million this season and has a $47 million option for 2022-23 that he has every intention of picking up. His health also played a part, considering that Wall played only 40 games in the past three years.

There’s always an option for Wall and the Rockets to agree to a contract buyout, but that doesn’t seem to be on the table at the moment. Wall made it clear that he doesn’t intend to engage in any buyout talks at the moment, while Houston also doesn’t seem to be keen on doing that just yet.

John Wall joined the Rockets ahead of the 2020-21 NBA campaign in a trade that saw Russell Westbrook go to the Washington Wizards. Wall ended up playing 40 games last season, averaging 20.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game.

The post John Wall Reportedly Might Sit Out Entire NBA Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

All-Star point guard John Wall is inching closer to the end of his stint with the Houston Rockets. According to multiple reports, the two sides are currently working on finding a trade that would see Wall departing Houston in the near future.

If there’s no deal to be found when the 2021-22 NBA season tips off, Wall won’t be part of the Rockets’ lineup. He will, however, remain on the team and provide leadership to the team’s young backcourt of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green while he’s there.

Wall arrived in Houston from the Washington Wizards ahead of the 2020-21 NBA season in a trade that saw superstar guard Russell Westbrook head in the opposite direction. Having not played since late 2018, he ended up putting together a solid campaign that saw him average 20.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in 40 games.

While the past season allowed Wall to show that he still can play despite the injuries that spoiled the last four years of his career, the Rockets will have a hard time finding a taker for him. This is mostly due to the massive contract that will pay him $91.7 million in the next two years, counting the $47.4 million player option for 2022-23.

Houston reportedly wants to help Wall find a landing spot but are not ready to attach a first-round pick to do so. Also, sources close to the situation reported that the team is only willing to consider a buyout if Wall isn’t off the team by the end of the upcoming season.

The post John Wall and Rockets Working Together on Finding a Trade appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The departure of superstars James Harden and Russell Westbrook has forced the Houston Rockets to rely on former All-Star guard John Wall to be their best player. And he’s delivered so far.

Despite being out of action for almost two years, Wall has been playing well in his first season with the Rockets. He’s averaging 18.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in 2020-21 while leading the team to seven wins in the last eight games.

This has helped boost Wall’s confidence, who labeled himself as “the franchise guy” for the Rockets after a 115-103 win over Memphis Grizzlies.

“I feel like I’m the franchise guy, now that James [Harden] has left,” said Wall. “You very rarely get the opportunity to be a franchise [guy] in two different cities and two different teams. I feel like that’s my job, to be the leader of this team.”

John Wall joined the Rockets in a trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards over the summer. At the time, it seemed like a bad trade for Houston, as Wall has been struggling with injuries in recent years.

After missing 41 games in 2017-18 due to a knee injury, the 30-year-old star suffered a season-ending heel injury early in 2018-19. During the recovery, he went on to rupture his Achilles and ended up being sidelined for the entire 2019-20 campaign as well.

Still, Wall is looking healthy now, and his performances are giving the Rockets a reason to be optimistic. And it’s safe to say that the franchise needs some optimism after seeing their two best players leave in less than two months.

The post Rockets’ John Wall: “I Feel Like I’m The Franchise Guy” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Houston Rockets have granted All-Star guard Russell Westbrook his wish to leave the organization. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets traded Westbrook to the Washington Wizards in exchange for guard John Wall and a protected first-round pick.

The move comes just days after Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard told the media that the franchise doesn’t intend to trade Wall.

Wojnarowski added that the pick included in the trade has several protections through 2026, and if it doesn’t convey, the Rockets are set to receive a second-rounder in 2026 and 2027.

While the Westbrook-Wall swap might come surprising to some, the trade wasn’t entirely unexpected. The Wizards and Rockets engaged in talks several weeks ago, when it became clear that Westbrook wanted out but couldn’t come to an agreement at the time.

Reportedly, Sheppard and Rockets’ GM Rafael Stone resumed negotiations on Tuesday, and this time it was a lot more straightforward talk that concluded on a positive note.

Westbrook joined the Rockets before the 2019-20 season, teaming up with his former OKC Thunder teammate James Harden. However, his time in Houston was marked with injury struggles and the team’s inability to make an impact in the offseason.

Westbrook reportedly didn’t enjoy his time with the organization at all and concluded that he would have been better off elsewhere. He averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game in the regular season but only managed 17.9 points and 4.6 assists in the playoffs.

In Washington, Westbrook will team up with All-Star guard Bradley Beal, while also having his former Thunder coach Scott Brooks on board.

For John Wall, the move to the Rockets represents a chance for a fresh start after two years of injury struggles. Wall played his last game in late 2018 and failed to return to the court since, having dealt with a heal injury and a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The deal might end up working for both the Wizards and Rockets. The Wizards now have a team that can contend in the Eastern Conference, and bringing in Westbrook might convince Beal to commit his future to the franchise.

Rockets, on the other hand, get a player who wants to play in Houston, and this could help them in the long-term if he leaves the injury issues behind. 

The post Rockets Trade Russell Westbrook to Wizards for John Wall appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It isn’t a secret that All-Star guard Russell Westbrook wants out of Houston Rockets. Numerous reports have indicated that Westbrook isn’t happy with the direction the organization is headed after parting ways with general manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D’Antoni and would like to continue his career elsewhere.

Several destinations for the 2017’s MVP have been mentioned in recent weeks, including LA Clippers and New York Knicks, but according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, an unexpected contender entered the Westbrook sweepstakes in the past couple of days.

Charania reported on Tuesday that Washington Wizards have shown interest in Westbrook and have already engaged in talks with the Rockets about a potential deal that would see John Wall head in the opposite direction. He also points out that the talks haven’t gained significant traction so far as Houston wants more assets included besides Wall. 

The assets that Rockets ask for are most likely draft picks as there is no need to include another player in the deal to have a salary match. Both Wall and Westbrook are on similar contracts, being scheduled to earn around $132 million in the next three years.

The deal would make sense for the Wizards as they are looking to build around All-Star Bradley Beal and get back to contention after a couple of rough years. While John Wall was once among the most electrifying players in the game, injuries have greatly diminished his impact in recent years. Washington now probably believes he won’t be able to return to being the player he once was.

Russell Westbrook, on the other hand, is still considered to be among the best players in his position despite his shortcomings in the shooting department. Pairing him with Beal and another talent like sharpshooter Davis Bertans would almost guarantee Wizards a playoff spot and probably even a chance to make a deep playoff run.

The post Rockets and Wizards Talk About Swapping Russell Westbrook and John Wall appeared first on SportzBonanza.