Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
The biggest story of the 2021 NBA offseason has revolved around the Philadelphia 76ers and the ongoing Ben Simmons dilemma.
Simmons has made it clear that he wants a trade from the organization, but the 76ers seem content with keeping him around unless they find a return to their liking. So far, no teams have been willing to bite on the rumored Herculean haul the Philly general manager Daryl Morey is reportedly seeking in return for the three-time All-Star.
Some recent chatter has hit the internet after the Houston Rockets announced that they would not be playing John Wall this coming season as the two sides have agreed to sit him and find the former All-Star a new home. It makes sense as the Rockets have embraced a youth movement, and the 31-year-old Wall does not fit the timeline.
ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins believes the Philadelphia 76ers should entertain a trade for former All-Star John Wall, but they should avoid it.
The biggest question is which teams would be willing to trade for Wall, who has had a rocky past few years in the NBA. ESPN analyst and former player Kendrick Perkins gave his thoughts after the news broke by citing the 76ers as one of the three teams he believes should trade for Wall.
“I know he wouldn’t be down with the rebuilding stage, so if I’m John Wall, I’m doing the same thing. I’m trying to go somewhere where I can win. Where I can at least have the chance to compete for a title. The problem is that he’s making a whole lot of lettuce, but there’s three teams that I think should really try to pursue John Wall, and that’s the 76ers, that’s the Clippers, and that’s the Pelicans.”
It is an interesting idea from Perkins, but let us take a closer look and see whether this is a move the 76ers should consider.
Considering that Wall is on the books for a hefty $91.7 million </a>over the next two seasons, they must factor in his recent injury woes to any potential deal, which would be a massive risk. The franchise already has concerns with big man Joel Embiid when it comes to injuries, and bringing in another piece like Wall could cause some concern.</p>
<p>Another issue with Wall is the floor spacing or lack thereof that he provides. One of the biggest knocks on Simmons is that he does not shoot the long-ball, and with Wall, it is the opposite. Wall is not shy about heaving 3-pointers, even if he is just a career 32.3 percent shooter from distance. Simmons’ inability to shoot has plagued his fit with Embiid, and while Wall would give the team a willing shooter, he is far from an efficient one. Wall is also a player who likes to slash to the basket, which could cause some spacing problems. Could they make it work? Possibly, but it is far from a perfect fit for a team that needs to get things figured out quickly.</p>
<p>It seems like the 76ers are holding out for a solidified star along the lines of Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal in any deal for Simmons, which is the right move. Those pieces fit better with Embiid and the 76ers and would bolster their contending chances on impact more than trading for Wall would. Meanwhile, bringing in the veteran point guard would be a high-risk move for a team trading a 25-year-old All-Star to get him, considering Wall’s health, financial, and fit issues. Perhaps a buyout would make Wall a fitting target, but that does not seem to be in the cards at the time of this writing.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Houston Rockets: 3 possible John Wall trade packages" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/15/houston-rockets-3-john-wall-trades/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/19/philadelphia-76ers-john-wall-trade/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/15/houston-rockets-3-john-wall-trades/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Houston Rockets: 3 possible John Wall trade packages </a> </div>
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