Houston Rockets guard John Wall has expressed hope to the organization that he will be able to play for the team again in the near future, sources told ESPN.
Wall and the Rockets had agreed that he would sit until a trade could be found, but the five-time All-Star guard spoke with Houston general manager Rafael Stone on Friday about restarting discussions about a return to the active roster. sources said. The two sides are expected to continue talks on Sunday.
For Wall to play this season, a compromise would probably need to be found between respecting his status with a supermax contract and the Rockets’ desire for him to play a complementary role in helping develop the young core of the team. That, along with other considerations, could be key in finding a way for Wall to play for the Rockets in 2021-22.
With two years and $ 91 million remaining on his contract, business negotiations around Wall have not started this season and there has been no inclination by either side for a free agent purchase, the sources said.
Wall, 31, came to Houston through a trade with Washington that sent Russell Westbrook to the Wizards before the 2020-21 season. After missing the entire 2019-20 season with a broken Achilles, Wall started 40 games for the Rockets and averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists. The Rockets and Wall agreed to shut him down at the end of the season, trying to protect his body and his business value.
The Rockets count on No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green and third-year guard Kevin Porter Jr. to play critical roles for the future. Before the season, the Rockets and Wall agreed that he would continue to practice and work with the team, but he would not be an active player as Houston was looking for trade scenarios. Wall wants to play again and has started discussions with the organization about whether there may be any circumstances for a comeback that is enjoyable for him and the team.
The Rockets are 2-16 to start the season, but they ended a 15-game losing streak with a win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
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