5 players the Washington Wizards may try to trade away in the 2019 offseason
By Nick Crain
2. John Wall
Some might say John Wall has the worst contract in the entire NBA. He is owed roughly $170 million over the next four seasons. While this is a lot of money for any player, it is especially a lot for someone who presumably will not play next season.
After suffering an Achilles injury early in the 2018-19 season, Wall was forced to undergo season-ending surgery. Shortly after the surgery, it was revealed that he may be out for the entirety of the 2019-20 campaign as well.
Wizards announce John Wall has had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles’ tendon. Surgery means Wall is likely to miss most, if not all, of next season — his first year of the four-year, $170 max contract extension he signed two summers ago.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) February 5, 2019
This means Wall will more than likely be paid just under 25 percent of his brand new extension while sitting on the bench recovering.
One option for the Wizards is trading Wall to a patient team that knows it’s still several years from being a true contender. A team like the Phoenix Suns, which knows it has young pieces who will be good in a few years, could bring on a guy like Wall and wait for him to return, knowing they would not need him right away anyway. Trying to pry away a first round pick from a team like this in a package for John Wall might be a good option.
The Washington Wizards could begin their post-John Wall rebuild earlier than expected. Again, trading Wall is unlikely and will be extremely tricky, but it is something has must be at least explored. While they may not find any teams willing to take him on, crazier things have happened in the NBA.