Boston Celtics: Pros and cons of trading for John Wall
By Chris Conte
Pros of the Boston Celtics trading for John Wall
Despite his Achilles injury, which held him out for about a season and a half, John Wall remains one of the NBA’s premier passing talents. The Boston Celtics have been missing a high-level passing point guard since they lost Kyrie Irving two offseasons ago.
Smart has excellent vision and touch, but his decision-making can be inconsistent at times. Outside of him, Evan Fournier, Al Horford, Robert Williams, and Jayson Tatum are the team’s best passers, and none of them are particularly elite.
That’s where John Wall would come in.
He could take up the mantle as Boston’s starting point guard and is capable of being a lead decision-maker. He is aggressive and will force the issue, leading to open shots for the Jays to take.
A playmaker of Wall’s caliber would not just benefit the Jays but the Celtics as a whole as well.
The likes of Nesmith, Pritchard, Horford, and Williams, who all rely on others to create them, would thrive next to John Wall.
Before Wall’s injury this season, his defense looked outstanding.
In the past, John Wall leveraged his strength and speed against smaller guards to pick off passes, strip lazy dribblers and even block some shots. His athleticism combined with his knack for the ball made him a clear positive on the defensive end. He may not be what he was four years ago, but he is still positive.
A Wall and Smart backcourt would give opposing teams nightmares. The speed, grit, and anticipation would propel Boston to the league’s top in steals per game.
With Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum on the roster, the Boston Celtics must bring in defensive playmakers to ignite transition opportunities. John Wall is one of those defensive playmakers.
Ime Udoka would not have to worry about hiding his point guard or trying to overcompensate for Boston’s backcourt in the playoffs.
They could theoretically switch every action, and the opposing team still wouldn’t have a mismatch.
The value of this versatility cannot be understated, and it’s why the Celtics need to prioritize bringing in guys that can play both ends.