NBA Rumors: Rockets Veteran Playmaker Succumbs To Injury; Future May Be Evaluated

KEY POINTS

John Wall ends his NBA season on a sour note due to a hamstring injury
Wall could be a subject of a trade in the offseason
The Rockets will try to experiment with young players in preparation for the next season

The Houston Rockets are going through the motions of finishing the current NBA season and head to another rebuilding phase.

One player who will not finish the season is John Wall. The five-time All-Star is dealing with a hamstring injury, and the Rockets’ management plans to tinker with their roster for the rest of the way.

Despite coming off an Achilles injury, Wall showed a lot of promise this season. He played 40 games with the Rockets, averaging 20.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 32.2 minutes of action per Basketball-Reference.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the hamstring tweak will sideline Wall for the rest of the season.

It will give Houston the chance to take a second look at their roster and probably figure out who to keep once the season is over. But does this mean Wall is safe?

Rockets star guard John Wall will be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a hamstring tweak, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Wall being shut down also gives Houston opportunity to tinker with lineups for final 11 games of season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 26, 2021

Wall remains a potent NBA star that any team would love to have. The only problem is his ability to stay healthy.

He has proven that he still has hops left in him, but his contribution means nothing if Wall is unable to play the crucial games for the Rockets or any team.

Looking at his contract, Wall is in the second year of the four-year deal he signed with the Washington Wizards worth $171 million.

After next season, he does have a player option, but the amount of money due to the 2014 NBA Slam Dunk champion may force the Rockets to consider dealing him away anew.

Houston is rebuilding and appears to be investing in youth. Wall is set to turn 31 in September, and most know that recovering from injuries at a certain age may take longer.

With him sitting out, he could be the new star the Rockets have planned. However, expect some NBA trade rumors linked to him to come up in the offseason if a good offer is on the table–particularly if it involves up-and-coming cagers who could form a new nucleus for Houston.