As the Washington Wizards’ focus now shifts to hiring a new president of basketball operations, and rebuilding a broken roster that peaked two seasons ago. The Wizards are in need of every position and a cornerstone player, including point guard, the positions currently occupied by the injured John Wall.
Wall spoke to the media Tuesday following the Wizards’ season finale loss that dropped them to a disappointing 32-50 record. He understands everything is in play moving into this summer as the new general manager rebuilds the team.
Wall said he has “no problem” with the Wizards drafting a point guard much like Murray State’s Ja Morant. However, Wall made it clear where he stands when he is ready to get back on the court.
“I would be fine. I would have no problem with that because it is what it is,” Wall told reporters per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. “You have to do what is best for the team. You have to make sure that we have pieces. And when I come back, he can be a great back-up to me.”
The biggest takeaway is “When I come back, he can be a great back-up to me.”
It’s unclear when Wall will return to the court. He himself said he was unsure if he could play in the 2019-20 season.
Wall missed 50 games this season after he underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from his injured heel. However, he ruptured the Achilles shortly afterwards in a freak accident, slipping in the shower. The time frame of his recovery initially is 12 months to resume basketball activities which puts him in the time frame of the second half of next season. This comes off the heels of him missing 41 games in 2017-18 in large due to a knee injury.
But Achilles injuries are tricky and unknown, so it’s a chance Wall could miss all of next season. If Morant or any other point guard is brought in and makes an impact as a rookie, Wall and the Wizards will then be faced with the unenviable task.
Since being drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Wall has been the cornerstone of the Wizards. Even after the team drafted Bradley Beal in 2012 and Otto Porter in 2013.
With Wall going suffering through the past two seasons with injuries and expected to have his recovery linger into next season, the Wizards soon-to-be GM must move accordingly around the situation. That may include drafting a new cornerstone point guard.
Wall’s four-year super max extension kicks in next season, as he will make an average of $42 million. That limits Washington’s ability to bring in top-prized free agents, so the focus may be building the roster through the draft.
All that is guaranteed is that the Wizards will hire a new GM, and once in place everything that follows is a mystery. That includes if Wall will return to his blazing form that dominated NBA teams before his rash of injuries.
It’s hard to replace a point guard that averaged 20.7 points, 8.7 assists, and 1.5 steals on what was considered a “bad” season. But, the Wizards’ new direction may have to take them towards that, replacing Wall. Right now, all his focus needs to be is come back healthy and then let the chips fall as they may.
