Should the New York Knicks consider trading for John Wall?
The New York Knicks offseason moves so far clearly indicate that the franchise is setting their sights on acquiring a star through the 2021 NBA Draft or free agency. While I believe this is a sensible strategy, it does leave an already frustrated fan base with another mediocre lineup.
The current starting lineup is projected to consist of Frank Ntilikina, Austin Rivers, RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin and Mitchell Robinson. Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton are also expected to factor into the mix. This gives the team an interesting group of young players to develop. It also confirms why the team is predicted to have the worst record in the sport next season.
With most of the major free agents and available stars locked-in to other situations, there is only one realistic place the Knicks could turn to have a chance at acquiring legitimate star power: the pool of players with bad contracts. Players such as Russell Westbrook and Blake Griffin have been mentioned in speculation.
However, for the sake of argument, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of targeting another former All-Star: Wizards’ point guard John Wall.
Pro: Star Power
Like it or not, John Wall still has undeniable name recognition and star power. When he is at his best, his raw speed and elite passing ability make him one of the most exciting players in the league.
He has a reputation as a fast break nightmare with the ability to finish above the rim. He also has a history of success as the go-to guy during his tenure in Washington. He has hit clutch shots to win games for his team on both the regular season and postseason stages.
The Knicks play in the biggest basketball market in the nation. Yet, they have consistently lacked the superstar the city deserves. The team’s last franchise player came in the form of Carmelo Anthony, who last made the All-Star team in 2016-2017. Fans have to go all the way back to Patrick Ewing in 1996-1997 for the next generational talent.
A healthy Wall would immediately give the team a chance at a true star for the first time in many years.
Pro: Production and Low-Trade Cost
There is a reason that Wall carries star power. The former first overall pick is a five-time All-Star who has career averages of 19 points, 9.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. His last time on the court (2018-2019) he recorded 20.7 points and 8.7 dimes.
Surprisingly, Wall is still just 30 years old. While he would not necessarily fit in the same contention timeline with Barrett and Robinson, he should still have several productive seasons left before suffering a major drop-off. Offseason workout videos released by Wall and the Wizards also show the point guard moving and playing at full capacity.
It is also worth considering that Wall’s services would not require the Knicks to part ways with any of their valuable on-court assets or draft picks. In fact, it is widely believed that the Wizards will need to staple other assets to the deal in order to move Wall. Which brings us to the cons.
Cons: His Contract
There are two reasons why John Wall is on the trading block. The first of these concerns is his massive contract. He is currently in the second year of a four-year, $171 million dollar contract he signed in 2019. That equates to an average annual salary of over $42 million. It may be the worst contract in the league.
While his deal is not set to expire until the after the 2022-2023 season, the landscape of the modern NBA makes expiring contracts one of the more valuable assets in the league. This means that he would be much less of an anchor as early as 2022.
Adding Wall would immediately destroy the team’s ability to pursue major free agents over the next few seasons. While the team has struggled to actually land notable players though this method, it remains to be seen if a player like Wall is worth mortgaging the financial future.
Con: Injury History
In addition to the large contract, Wall also carries a concerning history of injuries. The former All-Star played just 41 games in 2017-2018 and 32 games in 2018-2019. The most recent and severe of these issues, a left Achilles tear in 2018, caused Wall to miss the entire 2019-2020.
This is a massive red flag for a player with the financial constraints that Wall carries. The former Kentucky star has not seen NBA competition in nearly two years.
If his level of play has fallen due to the injury, or a reoccurrence of the issue occur, it would be devastating for whichever team is committed to his contract.
Conclusion
I’ll be honest, as a fan of the team, I am tempted by the prospect of adding Wall to the roster. His unique brand of speed and flash would fit really well in Madison Square Garden. He would also make the on-court product infinitely more interesting.
The low price point is also intriguing. It’s a shame that players like Wall, Westbrook, and Griffin have become little more than bad contracts. However, it creates major incentive for a team like Washington to move away from the deal. I would wager that the Wizards would include Wall, a young player, and a first-round draft pick in exchange for taking on Wall’s deal. The Knicks would also need to include Julius Randle and two smaller contracts to make the money work.
However, at the end of the day, the risk is far too high a gamble. The combination of Wall’s cap requirement and history of serious injury make him a potential nightmare scenario. It would be the NBA equivalent to player Russian roulette.
The only way that Leon Rose and the Knicks front office should even entertain the notion of trading for Wall is if the Wizards get desperate and offer a king’s ransom to dump his contract. Nothing short of a package including multiple first round picks would make the deal worth in for NYC.