John Wall: A Costly Spectator on the NBA Bench

John Wall: A Costly Spectator on the NBA Bench

John Wall, with a staggering $45 million salary this year and an eye-popping $47 million for the next, finds himself relegated to the bench for a franchise headed for the lottery. The exorbitant nature of Wall’s contract has been a long-standing concern, but witnessing its impact, particularly after he endured debilitating injuries sidelining him for two years, is undeniably disheartening.

Wall, who was acquired by the Houston Rockets in a trade involving Russell Westbrook in the summer of 2020, initially had high hopes of teaming up with the Rockets’ established star, James Harden. However, Harden promptly requested a trade to Brooklyn, leaving Houston with a rebuilding agenda and John Wall, a five-time NBA All-Star, in a state of limbo.

Fast forward a year, and the situation remains largely unchanged. Only a handful of teams possess the necessary assets to absorb John Wall’s contract, and all of them appear notably unenthusiastic about rescuing Houston from its current contract quagmire.