John Wall is on the move. The former All-Star point guard sat out this past season with the Houston Rockets, prompting continuous reports about his eventual contract buyout and departure from Houston. Now, speculation is resurfacing that Wall may be bought out soon. The Los Angeles Clippers, who have been linked to interest in Wall during the entire saga, could be ready to pounce.
Per Marc Stein, the Clippers are prepared to make a “strong pitch” to Wall and could be a frontrunner to land the 31-year-old. Los Angeles isn't a difficult destination to ease into — location, business opportunities and a star-studded roster including Kawhi Leonard and Paul George would be convincing enough for most players. However, it seems the Clippers have one more secret weapon: head coach Tyronn Lue.
Stein reports that the Clippers' “chances of signing [Wall are] said to be enhanced by the presence of coach Tyronn Lue”
Lue is a championship-winning head coach with NBA experience and a knack for keeping stars calm and collected. His pedigree speaks for itself. His 89-65 record with Los Angeles is impressive considering the extensive struggles with injury his two best players have experienced. Lue has kept things together while his stars are out and his team struggles with depth.
This is where Wall comes in. The veteran guard is up there in age now, but can still be a solid contributor. He averaged 20 points per game in the 2020-21 season.
With two healthy stars and Wall's added contribution, Los Angeles could be a formidable foe in the Western Conference next season. Look for sneaky improvement from the Clippers this offseason.
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