Boston Celtics: Pros and cons of trading for John Wall
By Chris Conte
Cons of the Boston Celtics trading for John Wall
Over the next two seasons, John Wall is in line to make $91.6 million. He has a player option in 2022-23, but he is unlikely to decline it, given the amount of money he would receive.
A salary of this size would be a headache to match and take on.
The Boston Celtics could trade Al Horford and Tristan Thompson to the Rockets to acquire Wall while remaining under the salary apron. That said, after trading for Horford to alleviate their books, it would make no sense to send him out for an even larger contract.
The financial dilemma does not stop there, though.
If Wall were to accept his player option the following summer, the Boston Celtics would forfeit their chance at singing any big-name free agent in the class.
They would also have to let Marcus Smart walk.
Financially, it does not make any sense to pursue John Wall.
The Cs would lose one of their better defenders, passers, and leaders in Horford while also having to watch one of their better defenders, passers, and leaders in Smart walk to another team in free agency.
Money aside, from a basketball perspective, trading for John Wall still doesn’t make much sense. As highly as I talked about his passing, other aspects of his game would be considered unattractive given the team’s current makeup.
It would be an understatement to say John Wall’s scoring has regressed.
Before his injury, John Wall averaged 23.1 points, 10.7 assists, and two steals on 54.1 true shooting percentage. He shot 60 percent at the rim, 37.6 percent from midrange, and 32.7 percent from deep.
In his first season with the Rockets, Wall averaged 20.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 1.1 steals on 50 percent true shooting. He shot 56.8 percent at the rim, 38.5 percent from midrange, and 31.7 percent from 3-point range.
His finishing has regressed the most and his jump shot is still inconsistent and unreliable.
These scoring woes will bleed right into the postseason. Wall will be sagged off in favor of doubling the Jays, and his passing won’t make up for his negative spacing value.
The Boston Celtics would be fools to pay someone like this north of $40 million for the next two seasons.