Rockets guard John Wall has exercised his player option for the 2022/23 season, with agent Rich Paul informing the team of the decision, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The move had long been expected, since the option will pay Wall a salary of $47,366,760 next season after he didn’t play a single game for Houston in 2021/22. There was no chance he’d come close to matching that figure if he opted out to become an unrestricted free agent.
Although Wall is now officially under contract for 2022/23, it’s unlikely that he’ll spend another full season under contract with the Rockets and away from the team. Charania reports (via Twitter) that the two sides are expected to make an effort to resolve Wall’s situation in the “near future.”
The Rockets would love to find a trade partner willing to acquire Wall, but his exorbitant cap hit will make it virtually impossible without attaching an asset or two, which the rebuilding club has no interest in doing.
There were some rumors leading up to the 2022 trade deadline about a possible swap of Wall and Russell Westbrook, but Houston reportedly sought a first-round pick in those talks, which the Lakers weren’t willing to surrender. I wouldn’t count on L.A.’s stance changing this summer.
Assuming the Rockets can’t find a taker for Wall, the two sides are expected to explore buyout talks. As Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported in April, the 31-year-old would like to have a role on a winning team, if possible.
Wall last suited up for the Rockets in 2020/21, when he averaged 20.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 40 games (32.2 MPG). His shooting line that season was just .404/.317/.749.
If the rockets won’t play you f them and get paid to do nothing .
JW is a loser. He didnt want to come off the bench… he will never ever get more than vet min 1 yr contract if at all.
Rockets told him they’d weren’t gonna play him, how was he supposed to get PT? If I had some legs under me I’d just stay in the gym, and sitting out an extra year making the team that didn’t e en give you a chance pay you, be sweet revenge.
I am okay with John.
If Westbrook opts in, it would be disaster for Lakers.
In other words, Lakers would lose championship rings and future.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported on The Lowe Post podcast (1:47:10 mark).
Westbrook to Pacers for Brogdon and other players.
True?
In other news, water is wet.
Which opt in was more shocking…..Wall or Westbrook?
That’s a close call. But in all seriousness, if I had to choose, Westbrook.
Big surprise here!!! I’m shocked he didn’t turn this option down and take his value to the open market
When will owners stop giving out these ridiculous contracts. They paralyze your franchise for years.
Blame the CBA for these ridiculous contracts tiered contracts.
Be thankful for the caps
What would Giannis get if there was no cap on a free market? It be crazy
Some of the best contracts in the NBA are max’s. Id estimate 80+% of max’s could demand significantly more if there was no maxes
The NBA would be boring as hell, with little parity if they operated under a system like the MLB which is essentially big bank takes little bank
Hardly anything in life is perfect outside Halle Berry’s body in Swordfish. It’s on the GM to ink or not ink
The Dodgers have been out spending everyone for years and they only have one ring that you can’t watch on VHS, and it was a joke 60 game season. MLB frequently has mid to low salary teams do well.
Blame the owners and GMs for giving them the contracts. CBA doesn’t instruct them to sign, spend or give away money/contracts. They do it on their own volition.
He should have done whatever Rockets asked him to do including coming off the bench, mentor young players, and help during practice for that money. There’s so much more he can get out of this game after his contract expires, yet he blew it by having this prima donna attitude. Too bad. Money will eventually run out …
Wall did exactly what the rockets asked him to do. He worked with the younger players and sat on the bench as they asked.
Jeez… JW told the team he would ONLY play if he was starting. Rockets were more than ok with him coming off the bench, but he refused. Please please get the story corrct.
Many NBA fans are really getting sick of these guys getting paid like they are and doing nothing to help their teams win.
TrueHoop has a great piece today on their new metric, Bonus Wins, that looks at players who are relatively underpaid but contribute a great deal to their teams winning. They concluded that the Celtics had eight players with positive Bonus Wins values, with Time Lord heading up the group.
Here’s the article: link to truehoop.com
I would love to see my Spurs get Mark Williams on Thursday night.
I haven’t seen the actual Bonus Wins database yet, but one can only imagine what John Wall looks like. Some colossal negative value..
Wall, Kyrie, Westbrook, Ben Simmons, it just goes on and on. These overhyped players getting paid $30-40 million and up and who either don’t play or do, but don’t contribute to team success. Ripping the fans and the league off.
I know what you’re saying I’d so much rather have the money for to Tilman Fertita, Josh Harris and Joseph Tsai.
Bonus win is a measure of underpayment for a player. That should be rectified when the player signs his next contract. A player that spends his entire career providing “bonus wins” to the teams he played for had a terrible agent or was a max player who was capped by NBA salary rules.
JW was never going to retire or go to a coach role on team or any team. Still wants to play. I do not blame him for wanting too. But I agree these contracts in sports for players. I look at Pujols as one for the Angels after he left St. Louis. But will see if some team steps up or gets bought out. I wish that we never got him but when Harden and RW wanted out. But hope something can be done to get him off our books
Why couldnt he come off the bench and play? Isnt that better than not playing at all??? If you are good, fans and fellow players will recognize you regardless you start or not.
Because the Rockets didn’t want him to take minutes from Green, Porter or Christopher.
Yes, they are rebuilding. But during mid season, he wanted to play and Rockets were more than willing to let him play off the bench, but he refused. He ONLY wanted to start and that is my point.
Play him so you can trade him.
Compare to John Wall
Poole makes $2 million a year and produces $20 million value this year.
“You wanna play or you wanna be rich AF?”
RAF
#1 most overpaid.
Consider the FMVP is making $700k more, and KD $4.3 mil less.
Wall > Westbrook and it’s not even close. Wall even after his bum knees is a positive player when he plays. Westbrook on the other hand makes the most bone headed plays you’re just staring at the scream saying the f*ck?
#FreeOptimusDime
Duh