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WASHINGTON, USA – MARCH 3: John Wall (2) of Washington Wizards celebrates during the NBA match between Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors at the Verizon Center in Washington, United States on March 3, 2017. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
via Getty
WASHINGTON, USA – MARCH 3: John Wall (2) of Washington Wizards celebrates during the NBA match between Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors at the Verizon Center in Washington, United States on March 3, 2017. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
John Wall has been out of the NBA for quite some time now. As the new season is nearing its start, Wall has been part of multiple practice sessions with other stars like Kevin Durant. Durant dropped an intriguing update for the Houston Rockets and James Harden in yesterday’s media day.
When asked about how Wall’s form was coming out of the injury, KD said, “Looked amazing to me, he looked great.”
Wall hasn't played in a long time. Just yesterday Kevin Durant said Wall looked 'amazing' when they were together on the court playing during the offseason. (Video: NBA) pic.twitter.com/AAALz2MDZK
— Jason Bristol (@JBristolKHOU) December 3, 2020
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Before the Westbrook and Wall trade had been confirmed, Wizards coach Scott Brooks was also impressed with Wall’s off-season workouts. When asked about Wall, Brooks said Wall was “as good and as strong as he’s ever been…They call this an old man injury. If there is any bright spot, he had it at 28…it is all going to come down to stamina…does he have that speed? He has it.”
Scott Brooks said if there’s a positive from pandemic it’s that it has given John Wall more time to be ready. He said team will take it slow with Wall and other players in camp and Wall will likely sit in some back to backs.
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) December 1, 2020
The Westbrook and Wall trade can be a win-win for both parties. Wall wanted a trade, and he got it. The Wizards on the other hand have a bigger star than Wall who surely can make them a playoff team again.
How John Wall might fit in with James Harden’s Houston Rockets
Yesterday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed that the Houston Rockets and the Washington Wizards worked up a deal for the trade of Russell Westbrook and John Wall. Both the stars wanted out of their respective teams and will hope to get their careers back on track.
Houston has agreed to trade Russell Westbrook to Washington for John Wall and a first-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 3, 2020
In John Wall, the Rockets are getting a 28-year-old point guard returning from multiple injuries and a player ready to prove his doubters wrong.
Wall and Harden can be an ideal fit in a 2-guard system. While Harden is a score-first point guard, Wall is a great facilitator of the ball averaging 9.2 assists per match in his career.
via Getty
James Harden attends Black Ops Basketball Run on September 12, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)
The Rockets will hope that Wall is a better shooter than Westbrook. The way the Rockets play, they will want their second star to play off the ball. John Wall traditionally has been the primary ball-handler in Wizards. It will be interesting to see how he might fit in the team at Houston.
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The team has transformed from a total small-ball lineup to a traditional lineup. They now have a true center in DeMarcus Cousins and a real power forward in Christian Wood.
For now, this move suggests that the Rockets are desperate to keep Harden and are willing to do anything for one last go at the championship.
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