Once the LA Clippers signed John Wall in the off-season, it was evident that the offense would improve significantly. Though Wall has a prominent injury history, his passing and downhill finishing were expected to make the Clippers a top seed in the West. Although head coach Tyronn Lue has found a rhythm, Wall hasn’t been a factor, as he’s missed a chunk of the season.
After facing an abdominal injury against the Denver Nuggets, Wall has been out since. At first glance, it seemed as if he was recovering. However, it was reported that he might be bought out shortly.
Furthermore, NBA insider Marc Stein recently mentioned that if the LA Clippers cannot move Wall, a buyout will be the next step in the process. This is a complete turn of events, especially after a motivational off-season from Wall and the rest of the Clippers.
John Wall's tenure with the Clippers is nearing an end, league sources say.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 9, 2023
Sources say the Clippers are still trying to trade Wall before Thursday's 3 PM ET trade buzzer but are expected to buy out the former All-Star if no deal develops.
More to come: https://t.co/A6ycVmnrjq
John Wall never found his groove in the LA Clippers’ rotation.
Since the first game of the season, John Wall’s role on the bench unit seemed a bit unusual. Not only did he have no true backup center to work with, but it appeared as if he was always under a minute restriction. This may have been because of injury concerns, or the ridiculous amount of depth Lue had within his lineups.
Moreover, in 34 games this season, Wall is averaging 11.4 points and 5.2 assists in 22.2 minutes per contest. What’s worth taking note of is that the former all-star guard posted 2.4 turnovers a night on a true shooting percentage of 49.8.
That said, these numbers clearly show that Wall and the Clippers did not mesh well together. Though this may be the case, he still has quite the trade value as he possesses quality experience to guide a rebuilding team. On the other hand, the front office should consider any offer on the table that includes Wall being moved.