After playing 40 games for the Rockets last season, John Wall has not taken the court since, as the team remains focused on developing their young talent.
But now, 18 games into the season, John Wall is trying to return to action.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Wall and the Rockets are in active discussions on a plan to get him back into the lineup this season.
(via ESPN)
Wall and the Rockets had agreed on him sitting out until a trade could be found, but the five-time All-Star guard talked to Houston general manager Rafael Stone on Friday about restarting discussions on a return to the active roster, sources said. The two sides are expected to continue talks on Sunday.
For Wall to play this season, a compromise probably would need to be found between respecting his stature with a supermax contract and the Rockets’ desire to have him play a complementary role to help develop their young core. That, along with other considerations, could be key to finding a path for Wall to play for the Rockets in 2021-22.
Wall, 31, is a 5x All-Star who was sent to Houston from the Wizards as part of the Russell Westbrook trade.
It was with the Wizards that he first blossomed into an elite player before he suffered a series of injuries that derailed his career.
His return has been quite messy for a multitude of reasons, but he proved last season that he’s still capable of playing at a high level given the right opportunity.
This year, the only thing he’s done is wait for the Rockets to trade him. But with seemingly no takers, and precious months of his career wasting away, the All-Star guard has finally grown tired of waiting.
What he’ll look like upon his return is anyone’s guess, but you can expect him to play a relatively minor role on the young and rebuilding team.
