Report: John Wall seen as potential trade target for Miami Heat

The Heat have a huge amount of expiring contracts (Andre Iguodala, Kelly Olynyk, and Meyers Leonard), which could make a deal feasible.

According to TrueHoop’s Tom Haberstroh, Houston Rockets guard John Wall is viewed as a “potential target” of the Miami Heat leading up to the NBA’s March 25 trade deadline for the 2020-21 season.

Wall, a five-time NBA All-Star in previous years, is averaging 21.0 points and 6.0 assists in 31.7 minutes per game with the Rockets. Now 30 years old, he appears to finally be healthy and explosive again after missing much of the two previous seasons due to an Achilles injury.

Regarding Wall and the Heat, here’s what Haberstroh writes:

If the Heat decide to make a deal, rival executives wonder if a package centered on Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, and Rising Star rookie Precious Achiuwa could net another star. Heat brass have shrewdly signed Kelly Olynyk and Meyers Leonard to mid-tier contracts ($12.6 and $9.4 million respectively). Those are big enough that the Heat can likely satisfy the league’s salary-matching rules should they bring in a high-salaried star.

John Wall and Kyle Lowry are potential targets.

The Rockets acquired Wall in the December trade that sent disgruntled star Russell Westbrook to Washington, largely because of his contract.

While Houston has appreciated Wall’s strong play and qualities as a leader and floor general, the reality is that a team acquiring Westbrook had to send out nearly as much money as it took in, in order for the trade to be permissible within the NBA’s salary cap rules. With Westbrook making an average salary of over $44 million per season through 2022-23, that was a tough figure for most teams to reach without decimating their roster in the process. Enter Wall, who has an nearly identical deal.

At the time, the thought was that Houston would likely have to wait until closer to that contract’s expiration before trading Wall could become a consideration. However, a few things have changed since then. For starters, the Rockets (11-23) enter the All-Star break on a 13-game losing streak, which could incentivize a youth movement. They’ve already been training young prospect Kevin Porter Jr. at point guard, which could provide a ready-made replacement in the event that Wall is dealt. In addition, Wall’s strong play could make him more desirable on the trade market, since he appears to have quelled many of the health concerns.

Finally, the Heat — as Haberstroh notes — are potentially an exception to usual math limitations, since they have several large expiring contracts who are non-essential players. For example, Andre Iguodala, Kelly Olynyk, and Meyers Leonard would be enough for a deal to work, and the Heat might consider it, since none are essential to their title hopes.

From the Rockets’ perspective, the incentive would be a significant increase in salary-cap room for the 2021 and 2022 offseasons, which could allow them to bring in younger players who are more in line with star center Christian Wood (who is 25). As Haberstroh notes, the Rockets could also ask for a young prospect or two from the Heat in any deal, with Herro, Achiuwa, and Robinson among the possibilities.

As with most trade proposals, it’s inherently less likely than likely to result in an agreement. But because of Miami’s unique ability to meet Wall’s lofty cap figure without decimating its roster, there’s a potential fit there that isn’t viable with most teams. And given Houston’s struggles, expect general Rafael Stone to consider any proposal that might bolster an inevitable youth movement. It’s worth keeping an eye on.

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