Tag: John Wall

Most overpaid NBA players of all-time: Former Rockets guard leads list

Several big names with #Rockets ties are featured on the @HoopsHype list of the most overpaid NBA players of all-time, including one at No. 1 overall.

In the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, veteran guard John Wall was paid more than $80 million by the Rockets despite not playing a single game. Effectively, Houston prioritized minutes and development for its younger players ahead of the former five-time All-Star.

It was a bitter financial pill to swallow for owner Tilman Fertitta and general manager Rafael Stone, but it’s worth remembering there weren’t many alternatives when it came to acquiring Wall in the first place. At the time, aging star Russell Westbrook was disgruntled and on a nearly identical contract to Wall — and it wasn’t possible to move one very bloated contract without taking back another.

With that in mind, the Rockets swapped Westbrook for Wall and a future first-round draft pick just prior to the 2020-21 season. Because Wall was considered a somewhat lesser player with a greater injury history, Washington had to include a draft asset, and that incentive made sense for a Houston team starting its rebuild.

But from a basketball standpoint, Wall played one season with the franchise. In 2021-22, which was the second-to-last year of Wall’s contract at the time, Houston agreed to a non-playing arrangement with Wall while working to trade him. During the 2022 offseason, when it was clear that further trades weren’t realistic, the Rockets struck an agreement with Wall to buy out the final year.

Not surprisingly, Wall’s salary relative to production in those years contributed to him being statistically the most overpaid player in NBA history, according to HoopsHype’s Real Value metric.

Here’s a look at which players with Rockets ties ended up on HoopsHype’s list of the 30 most overpaid players of all-time with analysis by Frank Urbina and Raul Barrigon. It’s worth noting that some of these players were overpaid by non-Houston franchises during other portions of their long careers.

The top 24 rookie ratings in NBA 2K since NBA 2K10, with Victor Wembanyama at No. 1 overall

Wembanyama is already making history in the video game world.

It isn’t easy to determine a rating for a rookie who hasn’t played in the NBA, but rookie superstar Victor Wembanyama is already breaking the mold.

We took a look at how Wembanyama compares to every other rookie in the video game for the past decade or so. We chose the top-24 players because it’s NBA 2K24 and Kobe Bryant, who wore No. 24, is on the cover.

Using the HoopsHype database, we were able to sort through every rookie rating in NBA 2K since NBA 2K10. These were the rankings for each player as they first entered the game.

It is worth noting that due to the lockout, NBA 2K12 did not include any of the rookie class (e.g. Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard) when the game was first released. Even once they were added to the game, however, none had a high enough rating to make this list.

Some honorable mentions whose debut ratings just barely missed the cut for our list and were rated a 77 include Anthony Edwards (2K21), Trae Young (2K19), Jayson Tatum (2K18) and Andrew Wiggins (2K15).

Meanwhile, some players who did not come close but have had tremendous professional careers include Nikola Jokic (68), Pascal Siakam (67), Giannis Antetkounmpo (60) and Rudy Gobert (52). So an original NBA 2K rating is not always the best indicator for future success in the NBA.

For what it is worth, the mean/median/mode for a rookie in NBA 2K since 2009 is between 71 and 72. So the following players who began their pro careers with a 77 or higher deserve some quick praise:

Should the Boston Celtics consider signing John Wall?

What should we be making of Wall’s private workout and what his potential return could mean for the teams involved?

According to NBA reporter Kelly Iko from The Athletic, former Houston Rockets veteran point guard John Wall held a private workout on Sunday with multiple teams, including the Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers.

The former All-NBA floor general is trying to breathe life into his basketball career. The five-time All-Star is intensifying his efforts for a much-anticipated return to the NBA, and it is not out of the question that this could involve him playing for the Celtics

What should we make of Wall’s private workout and what his potential return could mean for the teams involved? Could Wall fill a Blake Griffin sort of role for this roster? Does he have anything left in the tank as a rotation player?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast got together to talk it over on a recent segment.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Chicago Bulls urged to pursue John Wall in free agency

Should the Chicago Bulls make a run at John Wall in free agency?

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Heading into the summer, it was clear the Chicago Bulls had holes to fill. Arturas Karnisovas made it clear he didn’t want to reset the roster, so the Bulls pushed forward rather than step back. With that being their goal, the Bulls aimed to address their weaknesses.

The signings of Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig will help their need for 3-point shooting and defense, but Chicago could still use some guard depth. Carter is a great get and bringing back Coby White was a good move, too, but adding another point guard to the roster would be helpful.

A veteran option could be the play. Ben Stinar of Sports Illustrated believes the Bulls should go after five-time All-Star John Wall.

“In addition, the Bulls ranked 20th in the NBA for assists per game (24.4).

Wall could likely be signed for a minimum contract at this stage of his career, meaning there would be no downside if he were not a good fit with the team,” Stinar wrote.

Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report reported Wall held a workout for interested teams in Las Vegas this week.

Stinar’s point about Chicago’s passing rings true, and even at this point in his career, Wall would undoubtedly serve as a solid facilitator off the bench for the Bulls.

The only question is, would he accept a role in Chicago as a third-string point guard behind Carter and White? Because that’s likely what his role would be. If he’d be OK with that, it could be a low-risk, high-reward move for the Bulls.

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Could the Boston Celtics be interested in veteran point guard John Wall?

Former All-Star John Wall recently held a private workout in Las Vegas, and the Celtics were one of a handful of teams in attendance.

Former All-NBA point guard John Wall held a private workout in Las Vegas this week, and according to the Athletic’s Kelly Iko, the Boston Celtics were one of several teams with personnel in attendance. Iko reported Wall is hoping to mount an NBA comeback after being waived by the Houston Rockets last season.

Wall is not the player he once was. The five-time All-Star was at one point one of the fastest and most dynamic offensive threats in the Association. Injuries have been a consistent problem for Wall, however, who turns 33 this September. Prior to being traded to and subsequently waived by the Rockets, Wall had a brief showing with the Los Angeles Clippers headlined by poor shooting and costly turnovers.

Boston’s appearance at Wall’s workout this week could be nothing more than due diligence. But the Celtics are a little thin at the point guard position, and Wall is a veteran who can orchestrate an offense better than most.

Dead money easily tops current money for 2022-23 Houston Rockets

In 2022-23, the #Rockets are spending significantly more money on players who aren’t playing for them than they are for the current team. Here’s a look at how we got here.

As part of the franchise’s rebuilding plan, the Houston Rockets are clearly prioritizing future draft assets and playing time for younger players. Yet, they have to work within the confines of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement and its salary cap rules.

For example, in the trade sending Eric Gordon to the Clippers for a first-round pick swap in 2023, the Rockets had to take back veterans John Wall and Danny Green for salary matching purposes. Both were quickly waived, allowing them to sign elsewhere while maximizing internal playing time for younger prospects.

Years earlier, in the trade sending Russell Westbrook to the Wizards, the Rockets received a first-round draft pick (eventually used as part of the package to trade for Alperen Sengun) but were required to take Wall back for salary purposes. Eventually, Wall was held out of games and eventually bought out to make room for Kevin Porter Jr.’s playing time as the starting point guard.

That’s led to a dubious situation in 2022-23 in which Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta is spending much more money on players who aren’t playing for his team than he is on those who actually are. (Per HoopsHype’s Yossi Gozlan, the gap is more than $30 million.)

The good news for general manager Rafael Stone is that none of these obligations extend beyond the 2022-23 season, and Houston is currently positioned to have a league-leading figure of up to $60 million in approximate salary cap room this offseason.

For now, courtesy of HoopsHype salary data, here’s a look at who’s on the books for the Rockets. Money spent on players no longer on the roster is widely known as “dead money.”

Former Rockets guard John Wall remains unsigned on buyout market

Per Chris Haynes and Marc Stein, there doesn’t seem to be much of a market for John Wall, who remains unsigned after being released by the #Rockets at the trade deadline.

In January, former Houston Rockets guard John Wall was extremely critical of the organization in an unexpected podcast interview. At the time, Wall was a backup with the Los Angeles Clippers after being bought out by the Rockets during the 2022 offseason.

Less than a month later, Wall hilariously ended up back with the Rockets for a few days, since he was used as a salary matching piece as part of the trade that sent Eric Gordon to the Clippers.

Wall was immediately released by Houston, for obvious reasons, which allowed him to join the midseason buyout market of free agents. Many around the league expected the five-time NBA All-Star to latch on with a contender, but there doesn’t seem to be interest.

“We’re not hearing much on him as of right now,” Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes said of Wall in an appearance on his “#thisleague UNCUT” podcast with veteran NBA scribe Marc Stein.

“Nothing,” Stein agreed. “I’ve gotta be honest; I haven’t heard. I really haven’t heard of any market there.”

Haynes previously said Wall would be among the “top midseason free agents,” but it appears teams have other ideas.

Now 32 years old, Wall averaged 11.4 points (40.7% FG, 30.3% on 3-pointers) and 5.2 assists in 22.2 minutes this season.

Time will tell whether Wall attempts to put any blame on the Rockets for this situation. Because he was waived prior to March 1, Wall would be playoff-eligible for a new team.

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Rockets GM Rafael Stone explains Houston’s trade deadline moves

In Friday’s press conference, #Rockets GM Rafael Stone shared his perspective on Houston’s trade deadline moves (Eric Gordon) and what comes next for the 2022-23 roster and beyond.

In Friday’s press conference, Rockets general manager Rafael Stone shared his perspective on Houston’s trade deadline moves — headlined by a deal sending Eric Gordon to the Los Angeles Clippers — and insight on what comes next for the 2022-23 roster and beyond.

Will newly acquired veterans like Danny Green, Justin Holiday, and Frank Kaminsky be sticking around? Stone made it clear Friday that Houston is at least open to the idea, though additional conversations will be had with each of those players to determine the right fit.

None of the players acquired by the Rockets has a salary beyond the 2022-23 season, so Houston’s plan to create significant salary cap space in the 2023 offseason remains very much intact.

The rebuilding Rockets also bolstered their stockpile of future draft assets through Thursday’s deadline dealings, both with a 2023 first-round pick swap obtained in the Gordon trade and a pair of future second-round picks (Oklahoma City’s in 2024, 2025) acquired in the deal sending Garrison Mathews and Bruno Fernando to Atlanta.

From a GM’s perspective, here’s insight from Stone on how and why those deals went down at the deadline, along with his plan moving forward as Houston attempts to climb back to NBA relevancy.

Report: After trade deadline moves, Rockets evaluating status of Green, Holiday, Kaminsky

Danny Green, Justin Holiday, and Frank Kaminsky were all acquired by the #Rockets on Thursday, but it isn’t yet clear who from that group (if any) will stick around.

The primary purpose of Houston’s trade deadline moves sending Eric Gordon to the Los Angeles Clippers and Garrison Mathews and Bruno Fernando to Atlanta was to acquire future draft capital.

But to make the math work, the Rockets had to take in comparable salaries to what they sent out. Thus, at least temporarily, enter Danny Green, John Wall, Justin Holiday, and Frank Kaminsky. Yes, that John Wall, the former player who was very critical of the organization in a harsh podcast interview last month.

None have any guaranteed money owed after this season, so it won’t impact Houston’s plans to create salary cap space this summer. And Wall certainly won’t be sticking around, for obvious reasons.

The other three, however, might be. After all, the Rockets sent three players elsewhere in the deal, so they do have open roster spots for the rest of the 2022-23 season. Kelly Iko of The Athletic writes:

There are still ongoing discussions regarding Green, Holiday and Kaminsky. From the outside looking in, holding on to Green and Holiday could be beneficial between now and the end of the season. Both are experienced two-way veterans that could help Houston’s remaining young core over the next few months.

But there’s also the reality that names like Green, Holiday and to a lesser extent, Kaminsky should be attractive on the open market. Green is in the final year of his deal but is an example of a two-way wing the team would pursue this summer, meaning Houston’s brass has to evaluate whether or not it makes more sense to keep him on the roster and get an early look or allow him to latch on with a contender for the playoffs. Green’s been described as a positive locker room presence in the past, but those discussions are ongoing.

Between those three players and Wall, the Rockets technically acquired four players on Thursday while sending out only three. To do so, Houston waived sparingly used veteran Boban Marjanovic, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. However, the Rockets plan to immediately re-sign Marjanovic to a smaller deal after he clears waivers. In effect, his roster spot remains claimed.

As for the trio of newcomers, the dynamic is similar to when veteran guard Dennis Schroder finished last season with the Rockets after being part of the Daniel Theis trade (with Boston) for salary reasons.

Houston wasn’t going to force Schroder to stick around, since he was an expiring salary and not in their long-term plans. But they were open to keeping Schroder around, should he prove willing to accept a smaller role on a rebuilding team. He did.

It remains to be seen if Green, Holiday, or Kaminsky will be open to such an arrangement, or if they might want an immediate move to either a playoff contender or a team more willing to offer playing time. After all, the Rockets are likely to prioritize any extra minutes for second-year prospects Usman Garuba and Josh Christopher.

If the veterans want to leave, Houston could waive them and perhaps look to other veterans to fill those temporary roles, or perhaps use the roster spots to evaluate younger options from the G League.

Rockets general manager Rafael Stone could offer more clarity when he meets with the media on Friday morning. Stay tuned!

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Podcast: Rockets trade deadline reaction and Eric Gordon’s legacy in Houston

Today’s podcast with @JTGatlin and @BenDuBose features #Rockets trade reaction, with insight on a long-awaited Eric Gordon deal and why it was a win for Rafael Stone and Tilman Fertitta.

The 2022-23 NBA trade deadline is in the books, and major changes came with it for the young and rebuilding Houston Rockets.

Veteran guard Eric Gordon is finally on his way to a contender (the Los Angeles Clippers), while reserves Garrison Mathews and Bruno Fernando are out the door, as well (to Atlanta). For general manager Rafael Stone, both deals were made with future draft capital in mind.

Led by credentialed media members Jackson Gatlin and Ben DuBose, today’s “Locked on Rockets” podcast explains why this deadline should be viewed as a win for Stone and owner Tilman Fertitta.

Discussion topics include the team’s thought process behind all of its deadline dealings; Gordon’s legacy in Houston after spending nearly seven years with the franchise; what rotation changes are likely now that Gordon, Mathews, and Fernando are no longer with the Rockets; and the ripple effects from Brooklyn trading Kevin Durant.

Thursday’s “Locked on Rockets” episode can be listened to via Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, and nearly all major podcast distributors. It can also be watched on YouTube below.

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