Kendrick Perkins Claims John Wall Is the Answer for an Eastern Conference Contender

The Wizards are in need of a new identity after the departure of John Wall, and they might have found it in Kendrick Perkins.

The nba standings is the official site for the NBA. It has a section that shows each team’s current standing in the league.

ESPN commentator Kendrick Perkins can almost always be relied on to take the most absurd NBA position available. His newest scheme includes the Philadelphia 76ers, who are locked in a stalemate with star point player Ben Simmons and are on the verge of exploding. Perkins believes he has the solution to the 76ers’ problems: Houston Rockets point guard John Wall, who has been hurt often.

Wall is a difficult component for the Rockets to trade for a variety of reasons. Not only does he have an injury history, but he also has a significant amount of games left on his contract. However, according to at least one source, Houston wants Simmons to be the centerpiece of their reconstruction. If the Rockets and 76ers are both interested in acquiring Wall, making that happen will be difficult at best.

John Wall’s ascension to perhaps the worst deal in the NBA

Kendrick Perkins believes John Wall is a better fit with Joel Embiid than Ben Simmons

Kendrick Perkins believes John Wall is a better fit with Joel Embiid than Ben Simmons John Wall (L) is a better match for Joel Embiid (21) than Ben Simmons, according to Kendrick Perkins. | Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

John Wall was one of the greatest point guards in the NBA four years ago. Wall was selected first overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards, and he developed into a five-time All-Star for a flawed but brilliant team.

In 2016–17, he enjoyed his finest season, averaging 23.1 points and 10.7 assists per game, both career highs. He led Washington to a seven-game playoff battle with the Boston Celtics in the second round before the Wizards were eliminated, earning him All-NBA accolades for the first time in his career.

On July 1, 2017, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry signed the first “supermax” deal (officially a designated veteran player extension). Wall was quickly committed to a four-year, $170 million supermax contract with the Wizards, which began in 2019. It was a simple decision at the moment.

Wall, on the other hand, lost half of the 2017–18 season due to knee surgery and more than half of the 2018–19 season due to a left heel injury aggravated by a torn Achilles tendon in a fall at home.

Wall was paid $38.2 million in the first year of his contract, almost twice his prior pay, and he sat out the whole season.

Due to a hamstring ailment, Wall missed 32 games last season. He has now decided to pursue a trade with Houston management. Wall will not return to the Rockets.

The Rockets are allegedly interested in Ben Simmons.

After speaking with a few people over the weekend, it seems like the Houston Rockets are serious about getting 76ers forward Ben Simmons before training camp begins.

Things are still fluid, but according to sources, John Wall may be traded to Philadelphia.

20 September 2021 — Evan Dammarell (@AmNotEvan)

According to Evan Dammarell of SB Nation, the Rockets are seriously considering what it would take to sign Ben Simmons. Given Simmons’ $31.6 million salary this season and Houston’s lack of big-ticket contracts outside of John Wall, logic suggests that the former All-Star would be included in any deal to Philadelphia.

Under the collective bargaining agreement, though, Wall’s $44.3 million in 2021–22 makes a one-for-one transaction unfeasible. The 76ers can’t add that much money in a Simmons trade since they’re in the luxury tax. According to the ESPN Trade Machine, the 76ers would have to contribute at least $3 million to the deal to make it work.

Meanwhile, Perkins thinks Wall is a better match for superstar center Joel Embiid than Simmons. On SiriusXM NBA Radio, Perkins expressed his thoughts.

“I still believe John Wall can assist someone; I could see him joining the Clippers or perhaps Philly. I’m not sure what’s going on with Ben Simmons, but I believe John Wall in Philly with Joel Embiid is a better option than Ben Simmons in Philly with Joel Embiid because John Wall will take those shots and be more aggressive.”

Simmons is a hesitant shooter from the outside. It’s simply a poor one, Wall. Last season, Wall made 31.7 percent of his 3-point shots on 6.2 attempts a game. Only once in his career has he been a capable deep shooter, hitting 37.1 percent on 4.1 tries per game before his career collapsed due to injuries in 2017–18.

The fundamental issue with a Ben Simmons-John Wall deal is that it isn’t realistic.

The 76ers have been in win-now mode for quite some time. The Rockets aim to construct their team around a strong 2021 NBA Draft class led by Jalen Green.

However, Philadelphia’s president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey, will not take on Wall’s remaining $91.7 million over the next two years. With the damaged veteran starting his 31st season, that isn’t the case. Simmons has flaws, but he’s also running for president at the age of 25.

If Morey succeeds, Houston will have to give up a large portion of its future draft choices. It sent out James Harden, P.J. Tucker, and Victor Oladipo after loading the vault with deals. Yes, Ben Simmons’ contract is up after four years and $140.4 million, but he’s six years younger and more healthier than John Wall.

Besides, Perkins’ support should be enough to make anybody in Philadelphia think twice. His next brilliant idea might be his first.

Basketball Reference provided the statistics. Spotrac provided contract details.

RELATED: The 76ers are reportedly planning to call Ben Simmons’ childish bluff in order to create a nightmare scenario for all parties.

The playoffs nba 2021 is a topic that has been discussed many times over the years. In recent years, the Eastern Conference has been dominated by the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics. But, according to Kendrick Perkins, John Wall is the answer for an Eastern Conference contender.

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