Boston Celtics: Could John Wall replace Kemba Walker?

As more and more Kemba Walker trade ideas surface early on this offseason for the Boston Celtics, another former All-Star looking to re-establish himself has come up in conversation: John Wall.

The 30-year-old plays for a rebuilding Houston Rockets team, but would undoubtedly love to play for a contending team once again.

Wall made a name for himself during his first nine years in Washington, making five All-Star teams, one All-NBA team, and one All-Defensive team. He led the Wizards to the playoffs multiple times alongside Bradley Beal, highlighted by a seven-game series in 2017 against the Isaiah Thomas-led Boston Celtics. The Celtics ended up moving on, but Wall opened the eyes to NBA fans around the world – he was one of the best young point guards in the game.

Unfortunately, halfway through the 2018-19 season, he suffered a heel injury, keeping him out for the rest of the year. Then, an accident in his home resulted in a ruptured Achilles, sidelining him for the following season as well. This caused Wall to be traded to the Rockets for Russell Westbrook, looking to re-write his career in a new situation.

John Wall is an interesting fit on the Boston Celtics

Wall was unable to play the entire year, catching the injury bug once again. However, in the 40 games he did play, John was by far the most productive player on the poor Houston roster. He averaged 20.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 3.2 rebounds on 40.4% shooting from the field and 31.7% from beyond the arc. His counting stats are less than they were during his prime, specifically his efficiency, but he is still a quality NBA point guard that can produce in a capable offense.

His FG% was the lowest it’s been throughout his career, but that can be attributed to his abnormally large role on the team. Wall had the third-highest usage rate in the entire league at 35.6%, only behind Luka Doncic (40.5%) and Trae Young (37.7%). This statistic speaks to how much the Rockets relied on Wall as one of the only above-average creators on their roster, forcing him to take a higher frequency and difficulty of shots.

Despite his assists numbers falling to under seven a game this season, his assist% remained extraordinary, sitting in the 99th percentile at 36.4%. This means he was passing at a similar rate to previous years, but his teammates were simply not making as many shots as in Washington, leading to fewer assists for Wall.

On the defense end, Wall had one of his best seasons as a pro, holding the opposition to five points less per 100 possessions when he was on the floor. That’s in the 87th percentile in the league, and his best mark since the 2014-15 season, when he was named to an All-Defensive team.

When compared to Kemba Walker, the two have gone through similar career arcs. Both have been hindered by injuries in recent years after trying to prove themselves on a new team. But the question is, would Wall really be an upgrade over Kemba on this Boston Celtics team?

Despite Walker’s struggles in big games last season, he is proven to be a more efficient scorer from everywhere on the floor than Wall. John is certainly a more proficient passer, which could help both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown generate more open looks. The Jays have never had a pass-first point guard to help them out – the onus has been on them to create their own openings.

Both point guards have huge contracts for the next two years, with a player option on the latter season. Wall will be making about $10 million more per year, which is an incentive for the Rockets to get this deal done.

A key concern for Brad Stevens and the Celtics will be Wall’s availability. with an injury history as numbered as his, it will be difficult to rely on him deep into the playoffs. At the same time, who knows how healthy Kemba Walker will be on a given night.

If the opportunity is presented to them, do you think the Boston Celtics should swap Kemba Walker for John Wall?