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Rockets open to trading John Wall for Russell Westbrook if incentivized

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by J.R., Jan 21, 2022.

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  1. Patience

    Patience Member

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    “More cash” = $42 million dollars per year. That’s a LOT of money even if you’re already worth a couple hundred million. He would be stupid to give up a significant chunk of that guaranteed money. He’s unlikely to ever earn that much again in his life once his contract is up. Careers come and go, but that kind of money could help set up his family for generations.
     
    #301 Patience, Jan 29, 2022
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  2. coachbadlee

    coachbadlee Member

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    I'm sure he still wants to play.
     
    #302 coachbadlee, Jan 29, 2022
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  3. D-rock

    D-rock Member

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    Wall would be amazing playing next to Embiid and Tobias.

    :D

     
    #303 D-rock, Jan 29, 2022
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  4. BallSoHarden

    BallSoHarden Member

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    He was so lucky to get that contract given his injury history, technically those injuries still cost him future earnings, because if he was still the player without injuries he is young enough to get another $200M extension, so I do not blame him for wanting every dime of his contract. People expecting him to just throw away $40M+ when he is out $200M are wild. I always found it ridiculous when guys would give up $50M+ to ring chase and then not even get a ring.
     
    #304 BallSoHarden, Jan 29, 2022
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  5. TimDuncanDonaut

    TimDuncanDonaut Member

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    Wall not taking a buyout is less about being smart, but more that it is common sense. It's what a rational person would do.

    This is his Wizards pension. He can invest it or buy more bucket hats.
     
    #305 TimDuncanDonaut, Jan 30, 2022
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  6. MarioKissoDeath

    MarioKissoDeath Member
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    Just a stand-off with Wall and the Rockets on buyout. If he wants to play he’ll negotiate. Rockets don’t need to win and have to make the salary minimum of the league. Win win for both. He’ll definitely take a buyout next year if not this year. Exciting to think how much cap space, picks and talent we’ll have two years from now. Hopefully enough to reload this team. #process
     
    #306 MarioKissoDeath, Jan 30, 2022
  7. Hemingway

    Hemingway Member
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    I don’t really care if they buy him out or not. He still counts against the cap either way. Buying him out would just be a nice gesture and I expect it will happen next year.
     
    #307 Hemingway, Jan 30, 2022
  8. RHU525

    RHU525 Member
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    There is plenty more to life than money, it's just a lot easier to do those things when you have $35 million dollars.
     
    #308 RHU525, Jan 30, 2022
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  9. J.R.

    J.R. Member

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    https://www.theringer.com/nba/2022/1/31/22910354/los-angeles-clippers-nba-trade-deadline

    Wall is the player that intrigues me the most because he might also be the most attainable. Marc Stein reported last week on his Substack that the Clippers and Heat will have interest in Wall if he becomes a free agent in the event of a buyout with the Rockets. Kelly Iko from The Athletic reported two days earlier that the Clippers expressed “genuine interest” in Wall earlier this season.

    With so much ink spilled (cough) on the potential of the Lakers flipping Russell Westbrook for Wall, maybe it’s the other Los Angeles team that’s the true threat and better fit. The Clippers would ideally want a buyout scenario, as Stein said. But if it is a trade, Bledsoe, Morris, and Ibaka combine to make $43.4M, which makes them a perfect match for Wall’s $44.3M salary. Ibaka and Bledsoe aren’t long for L.A. And while Morris is a good player, wouldn’t swapping him for Wall, a five-time All-Star who’s still only 31, be a reasonable gamble?

    The upside: Playing a lesser role could lead to greater returns from Wall. Last season with Houston, he showed that he can still defend. He is still a good passer, too. Lue’s hands-on play-calling would help mitigate the fact that Wall isn’t much of a floor general. Wall could just help carry the load. He can also play without the ball; he’s made a quality 38.4 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s from above the break in his career. From the corners, he makes only 34.1 percent, which is below average but could improve with more looks from that spot as we’ve seen from plenty of vets.

    The downside: Wall wasn’t close to his former self during his 40-game stint with the Rockets last season. After rupturing his Achilles and missing all of 2019-20, Wall is clearly past his athletic prime and now has a scary injury history hovering over his every move. He averaged 20.6 points, but did so on a scoring efficiency that was his lowest since he was 22. It wasn’t long ago Wall showed up out of physical condition at the Olympics.

    Wall is not the same player he used to be. Whether it’s age, injury, or conditioning, there are plenty of red flags. Acquiring Wall would undeniably carry risk.

    But sometimes risks get rewarded. It’s not like Wall was awful in Houston. He had his moments. The last time Wall played in an NBA game was actually against the Clippers. On April 23, 2021, he played 39 minutes in a 109-104 loss for the Rockets. He had 27 points on 22 shots and 13 assists with four turnovers. Houston outscored L.A. by six points when he was in the game. Wall kept the game competitive, and then he was gone for the rest of the season with a “hamstring tweak.” He hasn’t played for the rebuilding Rockets since.

    Wall doesn’t have the Cooper Kupp acceleration that he did in his prime. But he still has skills that could fit next to a star. That’s why, if things keep going south for the Lakers, the idea of trading Russell Westbrook for Wall will continue to be a topic. But if they want to, the Clippers could offer the Rockets significant financial savings to avoid a buyout for Wall, who can opt in for a gargantuan $47.4 million next season. Acquiring Westbrook would keep them in the same cap mess, while the Clippers could save them millions.

    Wall has shown the ability to help a team, and he was open about his desire to take a back seat before he was dealt by the Wizards. Leonard and George ideally would have some assistance running the offense when they return from injury. And the bar is high to win a championship. Risks need to be taken. Even if Wall fails or gets injured again, he’s signed only through the 2022-23 season. At that point, the Clippers would have more flexibility to seek additional moves.

    Timing is everything for the Clips, and it might not be the right moment to roll the dice since their stars might not be back this season anyway. Wall could be had after a buyout. Dragic, too, will be a free agent this summer. Keeping Morris and the rest of the group to maintain the fun vibes this team has now built up would be a reasonable path to take. But the Clippers do need a point guard, and they should be monitoring the market to find one.

    It’s easy to daydream about what the Clippers could be in full form, when Leonard and Goerge return. The already elite defense would be even further enhanced by their abilities. The offense would have its main components back. Lue leads one of the NBA’s best coaching staffs. This team is near complete. Kawhi and PG will be back eventually, and then a point guard will be all that’s missing. The Rams acquired a new quarterback then made the Super Bowl. Can the Clippers find theirs?
     
    #309 J.R., Jan 31, 2022
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  10. steddinotayto

    steddinotayto Member

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    Dammit @J.R. I was JUST about to post this. lol

    I would take that Bledsoe, Ibaka and Morris pupu platter. You then move Morris to a playoff team for a protected 1st. Not only are you going to lessen the cap his for next year you get a protected 1st for Wall.

    Boston gets Eric Gordon, Marcus Morris
    Houston gets Al Horford, Eric Bledsoe, Serge Ibaka, Boston's 2023 1st
    Clippers get John Wall

    For 2022-2023, salaries for

    Horford: $14.5 guaranteed
    Bledsoe: $3.9 guaranteed
    Ibaka: UFA

    That's about a $26 million drop when compared to John Wall's salary for next season.
     
    #310 steddinotayto, Jan 31, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2022
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  11. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    The Heat still have LOladipo in their arsenal.
     
    #311 daywalker02, Jan 31, 2022
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  12. jim1961

    jim1961 Member

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    Its easy to forget that once upon a time, all of China loved and supported the Rockets. Thanks Maury. Well, I don't bow to a foreign power either so I guess it was a train wreck waiting to happen.

    At least the Rockets don't have the home turf against them like is true of the Astros, at least to some extent. Oh, I forgot, the world used to love the Astros and Rockets at the same time. Poor Texans.
     
    #312 jim1961, Jan 31, 2022
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  13. coachbadlee

    coachbadlee Member

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    This trade gave me gas.
     
    #313 coachbadlee, Jan 31, 2022
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  14. steddinotayto

    steddinotayto Member

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    That's fair. I felt worse when I read your Ben Simmons trade proposals, think that Wall and 2 1sts would cut it.
     
    #314 steddinotayto, Jan 31, 2022
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  15. coachbadlee

    coachbadlee Member

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    Don't forget I threw in Garuba. Maybe another future 1st. All that was dependent on Simmons being a better shooter.
     
    #315 coachbadlee, Jan 31, 2022
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  16. Hemingway

    Hemingway Member
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    Rockets should do it, but will anybody else in this trade? Not sure if the new Boston management are pick hoarders like Ainge and if Clippers would take on Wall’s contract with Kahwi and George hopefully still around next year.
     
    #316 Hemingway, Jan 31, 2022
  17. steddinotayto

    steddinotayto Member

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    I wasn't sure about the Clips wanting Wall either but if what O'Connor wrote can be considered possible I can see them moving their expiring contracts just to take a flyer on Wall. If it doesn't pan out they remove $45 million from their cap in summer of 2023. As for Boston, I think if they make another move to offload Schroeder and his contract then the addition of Gordon and Wood would be the equivalent of Horford and Schroeder's salary.
     
    #317 steddinotayto, Jan 31, 2022
  18. ElPigto

    ElPigto Member
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    What about this? Not sure if Clippers go for it since it would be helping a conference rival, but this gives Clippers John Wall (not sure why they want him this year anyways, but whatever), and gives Jazz a great replacement for Joe Ingles. Rockets get a bunch of expiring deals they can immediately cut. They can keep Udoka Azubuike I guess.

    tradenba.png
     
    #318 ElPigto, Jan 31, 2022
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  19. steddinotayto

    steddinotayto Member

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    I picked the Celtics because they have draft capital to trade but this might work if Houston wanted a decent player in return because Utah don't have 1st rounders to trade.
     
    #319 steddinotayto, Jan 31, 2022
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  20. jerryclark

    jerryclark Member

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    this seems like wishful thinking. The clippers are one of the best orgs they arent going through all that for john wall. He is about as close to a negative asset as you can get

    There are going to be teams that can offer more for ibaka and morris especially
     
    #320 jerryclark, Jan 31, 2022
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