In an ESPN appearance before Wednesday’s nationally televised game between the Rockets and Detroit Pistons, veteran NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said it is becoming “increasingly likely” that Houston guard John Wall will not play in the league during the 2021-22 season.
While Wall is still being paid by Houston and is working in something of a sideline mentor capacity, he and the organization came to a mutual decision in September for him not to play in any games, since the rebuilding Rockets are prioritizing the development of younger players. However, based on the 31-year-old’s bloated contract — which could run for both this season and next — it’s not easy to trade him elsewhere.
Regarding Wall’s short-term future, Woj said:
There are no plans for John Wall to play for the Rockets. It’s becoming increasingly likely that John Wall may not play anywhere in the NBA this season.
The cost of his contract, right now, is just too prohibitive. He’s got a $44-milion deal this year, and a $47-million-dollar player option next year that any team that would potentially trade for him would want him to decline. Well, he’s not doing that. He’s not giving that money back.
The other route, to become a free agent, and eligible to sign somewhere else, is a contract buyout. John Wall has shown no interest in doing that this year, nor have the Rockets. So he sits for now, as the Rockets rebuild and play their young guys. John Wall may not play at all in the NBA this season.
In his only active season (2020-21) with the Rockets, Wall averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists in 32.2 minutes. Houston acquired the five-time All-Star and a future first-round draft pick via a December 2020 trade with Washington involving then-disgruntled star Russell Westbrook.
It’s not impossible that the dynamics could change as the 2021-22 season progresses. Perhaps the Rockets (1-10) revisit their decision to sit a healthy Wall if their struggles continue, or maybe an injury to a guard on a title contender leads to that team eventually changing its opinion and becoming more willing to accept Wall later in the season.
But as of now, the most likely option still appears to be Wall and the Rockets revisiting the landscape — both trade options and a contract buyout — in the 2022 offseason, when his deal has only one year left.
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