09 July 2023 , 17:46
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Former All-Star guard John Wall is set to hold a private workout for NBA franchises in Las Vegas on Sunday as he plots a route back into the league.
While the offseason is in full force, figures from the NBA have flocked to Las Vegas in recent days to watch as Summer League gets underway. However, other teams and players use the time to handle business such as contract extensions or trade discussions.
With the free agency period officially underway, Wall is looking for a new destination and he has showcased his talent for interested franchises. The 32-year-old has been without a team since being waived by the Houston Rockets back in February, which came after a string of brutal injuries.
According to
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, Wall is hosting a workout to try and drum up interest in his services for the 2022/23 NBA season. Several teams are reportedly interested in signing the five-time All-Star, and could be tempted to offer him a deal should he be healthy and athletic.
Last season, Wall played in 34 games for the LA Clippers as he averaged 11.4 points on 40.8 percent shooting along with 5.2 assists. However, the Clippers decided to trade him to the Rockets, who waived him three days later.
Wall’s struggles to find a new team are a far cry from his time as one of the NBA’s most exciting guards. He starred for the Washington Wizards between 2010 and 2019, averaging 19.0 points and 9.2 assists per game before injuries derailed his career.
His 2018/19 season with the Wizards ended early due to surgery to combat a left heel injury in December, and he developed an infection in the incision from that surgery. The infections were so bad Wall later revealed there were concerns he could lose his foot.
Wall then suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon when he slipped and fell in his home. As a result, the 32-year-old was ruled out for 12 months to recover - a catastrophic moment for the Wizards, given Wall had signed a four-year deal worth $170 million back in July 2017.
John Wall established himself as one of the premier guards in the NBA during his time with the Washington Wizards (Getty Images)Wall was ultimately traded to the Rockets in a deal that brought 2017 MVP Russell Westbrook to D.C. in December 2020. He played 40 games for Houston in 2020/21, posting 20.6 points and 6.9 assists per game.
During the 2021/22 season, Wall and the Rockets reached a mutual decision for him to step away from the team and no longer play given the franchise was rebuilding. Houston prioritised the development of young guards Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green, with Wall eventually reaching a contract buyout agreement with the Rockets.
A two-year deal worth $13.2m with the Clippers followed shortly after. His time sharing the court with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George didn’t work out the way many envisioned, and now he faces what could be his final chance to impress scouts and return to the NBA fold.
If he stays healthy and showcases the talent that made him such a coveted player just a few years ago, Wall could be a huge steal for a franchise that takes a chance on him. He can still be a key veteran influence, particularly if utilised as the top guard option off the bench for a competitive roster.