The Houston Rockets underwent a significant roster transformation on Wednesday. In turn, it leaves a lot of pressure on the newly acquired Victor Oladipo, as well as guys such as John Wall. More on that in a second, though.
After months of speculation and internal turmoil, the Rockets finally shipped James Harden out of town. Though “The Beard” had become nothing less than a distraction and a deterrent to the organization's future, he is still the second-best player in franchise history.
Harden ranks second behind Rockets legend and Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon in terms of win shares. He is a former league MVP and three-time scoring champion who revitalized the franchise as a perennial contender in the Western Conference, even if his playoff shortcomings complicate his legacy in H-Town.
Naturally, the Rockets will go through a bit of a transitory period. Yet, the events of Wednesday's blockbuster suggest general manager Rafael Stone and governor Tilman Fertitta have no interest in tanking.
Houston acquired Victor Oladipo from the Indiana Pacers, likely with the hopes Oladipo can return to All-NBA form.
Then again, Oladipo himself is reportedly showing some discontent with respect to his new team. Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer reported the 28-year-old would prefer a trade away from Houston, ideally to the Miami Heat.
With Harden gone and Oladipo possibly grumbling, who becomes the new “alpha” in Houston? Christian Wood is an emerging talent, but he is still discovering his full potential. P.J. Tucker is a good veteran leader, but he could soon follow Harden out of town.
If the Rockets hope to contend, they need John Wall to assert himself as the top dog.
This is what John Wall wanted
The truth is, John Wall could not have walked into a better situation.
Yes, the Rockets are 3-6 to start the season. The franchise has been wrought with tension and uncertainty.
But Harden's departure alleviates some of the internal stress in the locker room, and should allow Houston to play more freely and head coach Stephen Silas to implement his offense. That is good news for Wall.
Silas' system is meant to prioritize pass and ball movement. Wall excels at running in transition and getting the offense into sets quickly, especially in pick-and-roll. No longer will Houston be bogged down by Harden's dominance over the rock or the strict adherence to iso-ball.
But, here's the other key element: Wall still wants to be a cornerstone player.
One of the reasons Wall reportedly grew frustrated with Washington Wizards management was the fact the Wizards were building around Bradley Beal. Initially, he came to Houston to be Harden's sidekick and help jumpstart a dormant organization. Now, Wall is suddenly the face of the franchise.
Wall has suddenly been thrust into the spotlight, especially with Oladipo reportedly wavering in terms of his desire to play for the Rockets. Yet, being the top dog is something Wall has yearned to regain.
The former No. 1 pick is also eager to be more of a leader. He hinted as much in his response to Harden's “We're not even close” comments on Tuesday night, saying everyone needs to buy in and commit to the common goal.
He's still explosive
Wall's numbers might not look all that spectacular on the surface.
The 30-year-old is averaging 18.6 points, 5.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds through his first seven games in Houston. But remember, he did that while sharing the floor with a ball-dominant guy in Harden who eats possessions and serves as the primary playmaker.
In truth, the early signs are encouraging for a guy still getting his feet wet in his return from an Achilles injury. Wall is getting to the basket. He flies all over the place as a help defender who plays the passing lanes and comes over to block shots at the rim. The 32.3 three-point percentage might be lower than the Rockets would like, but Wall is making over 50 percent of his twos, and his .544 true shooting percentage is a respectable clip.
Wall has shown signs of being “that guy” again, the same guy who is a former All-NBA player and routinely piled up double-doubles. He should see plenty more of the ball going forward, and the offense will run more through him, considering Oladipo has more experience playing off the ball.
Whether the Rockets rally around Wall remains to be seen. But he has ample experience being the top guy for years in Washington. If Houston really does hope to compete in the coming years, John Wall needs to be the alpha.
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