Former No. 1 overall pick and five-time All-Star John Wall is among the NBA veterans who are in Las Vegas this week in the hopes of finding their way back into the league. Making an appearance on ESPN’s Summer League broadcast on Sunday (YouTube link), Wall said he’s seeking a new NBA home after having not been on a roster since February 2023.
“My focus is to still work hard and come here and network and be around teams,” Wall said (hat tip to Nick Jungfer of Basketball Forever). Whatever role it is, I’m willing to accept. … If it’s going to a team and being a vet and teaching the young guys how to be a point guard, just to help, that’s a development I’m willing to do.”
Once a 20-point-per-game scorer who was consistently among the league leaders in assists, Wall dealt with a series of leg injuries – including a torn Achilles – and hasn’t played more than 41 games in a season since 2016/17. He appeared in 34 contests for the Clippers in ’22/23, but his shooting rates (.408/.303/.681) were well below his career averages and he has lost a step on defense. The 33-year-old was traded from Los Angeles to Houston at the 2023 deadline and was waived by the Rockets a few days later.
Another former All-Star guard who has struggled to hold a consistent NBA roster spot in recent years, Isaiah Thomas also appeared on ESPN’s Sunday broadcast (YouTube link) and told Cassidy Hubbarth that he continues to seek a new contract after finishing last season with the Suns. Thomas’ time with Phoenix in March and April represented his first stint in the NBA in two years.
“I’m a free agent right now. (I’m) talking to a few teams trying to see what the best opportunity is down the line,” Thomas said. “I want to play a year or two more. Just staying on the slow grind. Staying patiently ready. Knowing that I can impact an organization whether I play or not, and be super impactful each and every day. So I’m just waiting for the call.”
Like Wall, Thomas hasn’t played a full NBA season since 2016/17 and has been slowed by injuries since then — in Thomas’ case, a hip issue limited his availability for multiple years. In the seven years since he averaged 28.9 points per game in 76 starts for Boston in ’16/17, he has played just 115 total NBA games.
Meanwhile, former NBA first-round pick Bruno Caboclo, who has been out of the league since 2020/21, is also in Vegas in search of an NBA offer, according to a report from Mozzart Sport (hat tip to Eurohoops).
A 6’9″ forward, Caboclo never developed into a reliable role player in the NBA, but has excelled in Europe, earning All-EuroCup Second Team honors and winning a German League (Basketball Bundesliga) championship with Ratiopharm Ulm in 2023. The 28-year-old technically remains under contract with KK Partizan, but has been at odds with the Serbian club and reportedly doesn’t intend to return, per Mozzart Sport.
While it’s not uncommon for free agents to hold workouts for NBA teams in Vegas during Summer League, with so many league personnel in attendance, it’s unclear if Wall, Thomas, or Caboclo will be holding any such workouts or if they’re simply in town for networking purposes.
John Wall was a beast! It is really a bummer how short his window was before the injuries began to slow him down.
I think Wall will have been humbled by NBA time off. He needed to heal his body and mind. Being traded back to Houston probably brought up a lot of old feelings. Time to get over it and bench coach a team up. Isaiah Thomas was a baller… tried playing through a hip and a death in the family. Never forget that run he had in Boston.
JW blew his golden opportunity with Clippers in every way. He will not get another opportunity. China is his option.
Death, taxes and Isaiah Thomas aiming for an NBA comeback.
Bruno Caboclo should get another shot at a team looking to develop young guys. He’s only 2 years away from being 2 years away.
Sad that the brinks truck never came for IT.
Bruno is ready
Good way of putting it, they’re looking for contracts. Wall’s last contract was for 2 years and had to be bought out midway through the first season. Forget networking, how about offering to take a non-guaranteed contract?