Could John Wall End Up With New York Knicks?

John Wall, New York Knicks, NBA Trade Rumors
NBA Analysis Network

The New York Knicks have decided that it was time to make a change to their starting lineup and former NBA All-Star Kemba Walker is the casualty. During a press conference on Monday, head coach Tom Thibodeau revealed that Walker will be removed from the rotation for the time being and that Alec Burks would be taking over as the starting point guard.

Walker has struggled mightily on the defensive end of the floor, which in large part, is why he is being removed from the rotation. Walker has the worst plus/minus ratio of anyone on a winning team and the Knicks’ are better on both ends of the court when he is on the bench.

Now, the question is, what does the future hold for Walker? There have been rumors that the Knicks are going to look to move him prior to the NBA Trade Deadline. 

Which teams could be interested? One team that was mentioned by A. Sherrod Blakely over at Bleacher Report was the Houston Rockets in a deal centered around John Wall.

“A source close to the Knicks indicated New York may also have a potential trade partner in the Houston Rockets, who are eager to move John Wall.”

NBA LATEST NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Rockets-Thunder Trade Lands John Wall In Oklahoma City

Wall is currently not playing for the Rockets, but it is not because he is injured. Prior to the season, the two sides agreed that he would not suit up for the team as the Rockets looked for a new team for Wall to play with.

Unsurprising, given his massive contract and player option for next season, Wall’s market has been nonexistent. A return to the court could fix that, but the Rockets and Wall have been unable to agree to what kind of role he would return to.

Compensation, especially when it comes to the Knicks, is something an Eastern Conference executive thinks is tricky to figure out.

“It’s so tricky because you’re talking about two players who are never going to get back to where they were and, to be frank, aren’t going to live up to the contracts that are on the books for them now,” said an Eastern Conference executive. “You can’t just add them and be good with that.”

For New York, this isn’t a route they should be taking. Trading for Wall, a former All-Star that is now 31-years old and on a contract that doesn’t match the production, would be commonplace. With Leon Rose, Scott Perry and William Wesley, the team has been avoiding moves like that and should continue doing so.

NBA LATEST NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Rockets-Thunder Trade Lands John Wall In Oklahoma City

New York would be better off holding onto Walker and seeing how things play out with their new roster alignment before trying to make a deal. You never know what the future holds, a need for Walker may arise later on and he could be reinserted into the rotation once again.

Magic Trade Proposal Lands Dejounte Murray From Hawks

In a speculative NBA trade scenario proposed by Bleacher Report, the Atlanta Hawks could be looking to reinvigorate their roster by trading Dejounte Murray to

Magic Coach Jamahl Mosley Signs Contract Through 2027-28

The Orlando Magic have taken a significant step towards solidifying their resurgence by extending Coach Jamahl Mosley’s contract through the 2027-28 NBA season, as announced

Rockets Get Major Relief About Alperen Sengun’s Injury

In a fortunate turn of events, Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun dodged a major injury after a concerning incident on the court, providing major relief