3 reasons John Wall’s return will fix the Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards are waiting for John Wall to make his return to the floor. It may not be this season, but when he does, they’ll get back to winning.

It’s yet to be decided whether John Wall‘s going to make his return this season. The Washington Wizards are still somewhat in the playoff race, and that’s not necessarily the right setting to bring back their rehabbing star.

The caution behind his return certainly makes sense. Washington made a huge gamble on Wall, signing him to a three-year extension worth $170-million in July of 2017. And the very next season, he would go on to play just 41 games due to a procedure on his left knee.

Last year, Wall had a procedure done to help with discomfort in his left Achilles. What was supposed to be a six-to-eight-week recovery, turned into an indefinite timetable once he ruptured the same Achilles at his home. He has yet to return.

Given the history of his injury, his paycheck, and the state of the club–caution is hard to argue.

There’s a scene in Avengers Endgame, where Captain America (Chris Evans) turns to Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and tells her their plan is going to work. When she asks why he’s so confident, the hero replies: “Because I don’t know what I’m going to do if it doesn’t.”

Think of the Wizards as Evans’ character here, in a loose sense.

Washington is working with an ever-thinning window of contention between the middle of Bradley Beal‘s prime, and what their hoping will be the tail end of Wall’s. When their franchise point guard returns, he’s got to be everything they need to regain their playoff status.

And from what we’ve seen this season, all signs point to him being the glue that will hold this unit together next season, and make them better even. Let’s take a look at three different ways Wall’s inevitable return to the floor will fix the Washington Wizards.