Philadelphia 76ers: No, they should not entertain a John Wall trade

Why the Philadelphia 76ers should avoid a Ben Simmons for John Wall swap

On paper, there are some things the 76ers could find desirable with Wall. Averaging 9.1 assists for his career, the guard is a willing passer that would give Philadelphia a new floor general to keep the offense running smoothly. When he is not passing, he is also a capable scorer, something they have needed more of at the point guard position. While he is not the spry defender he once was, Wall could certainly still hold up on that side of the ball.

Unfortunately, there are some justifiable concerns with Wall as well.

First off, the health issues remain with Wall, as the injuries have piled up for him over the years. While he played 40 games last season, that should not give potential suitors like the 76ers the closure they need to feel like he can stay healthy after seeing him miss considerable time over the last four seasons. Considering that Wall is on the books for a hefty $91.7 million over the next two seasons, they must factor in his recent injury woes to any potential deal, which would be a massive risk. The franchise already has concerns with big man Joel Embiid when it comes to injuries, and bringing in another piece like Wall could cause some concern.

Another issue with Wall is the floor spacing or lack thereof that he provides. One of the biggest knocks on Simmons is that he does not shoot the long-ball, and with Wall, it is the opposite. Wall is not shy about heaving 3-pointers, even if he is just a career 32.3 percent shooter from distance. Simmons’ inability to shoot has plagued his fit with Embiid, and while Wall would give the team a willing shooter, he is far from an efficient one. Wall is also a player who likes to slash to the basket, which could cause some spacing problems. Could they make it work? Possibly, but it is far from a perfect fit for a team that needs to get things figured out quickly.

It seems like the 76ers are holding out for a solidified star along the lines of Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal in any deal for Simmons, which is the right move. Those pieces fit better with Embiid and the 76ers and would bolster their contending chances on impact more than trading for Wall would. Meanwhile, bringing in the veteran point guard would be a high-risk move for a team trading a 25-year-old All-Star to get him, considering Wall’s health, financial, and fit issues. Perhaps a buyout would make Wall a fitting target, but that does not seem to be in the cards at the time of this writing.