NBA Trades: The pros and cons of a John Wall trade for the Lakers

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MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – FEBRUARY 04: John Wall #1 of the Houston Rockets brings the ball up court during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on February 04, 2021 in Memphis, Tennessee, NBA Trades: The pros and cons of a John Wall trade for the Lakers. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /

NBA Trades: How John Wall has performed in the hypothetical Lakers’ role

Wall has averaged 5.1 transition possessions per game since 2015, shooting 57.8 percent from the field on 3.5 shots per game. He has been able to average 5.1 points in transition – 24.3 percent of his scoring output.

Wall has complemented his transition skills by being a primary ball-handler in the pick and roll. He has averaged 8.6 pick-and-roll possessions per game since 2015. Wall has a field goal percentage of 43 percent on 6.3 shots per game, which allows him to create 6.8 points – 31.4 percent of his scoring output.

When Westbrook isn’t involved in either of these sets, he usually stands behind the arc as a floor-spacer. Westbrook has taken 21.4 percent of his shots from behind the arc this season, averaging 3.5 attempts per game.

Unfortunately, Westbrook hasn’t been able to thrive off the ball, only making 30.2 percent of his attempts this season. It is not the first time that Westbrook has struggled from behind the arc, as before this season, he had a career shooting percentage of 30.5 percent on 3.7 attempts per game.

At first glance, replacing Westbrook with Wall would be a puzzling move, as Wall also has struggled from behind the arc. Wall has only converted 33.3 percent of his shots from behind the arc since 2013 on 4 attempts per game.

However, when you look beneath the surface, there is some evidence that John Wall would be a better shooter on the Lakers.

Most of the Lakers’ role players take one specific type of three – catch and shoot threes. For instance, at least 64 percent of Malik Monk and Carmelo Anthony’s attempts have been catch and shoot threes, as they average 3.3 and 5.1, respectively.

Wall has been an above-average shooter on catch and shoot attempts, converting 38.2 percent of his shots on 2.2 attempts. The weakness in John Wall’s three-point skill set is pull up three-point shots.

Wall has only made 27.3 percent of this pull-up threes since 2013 on 1.9 attempts per game. If the Lakers can convince him to reduce the pull-up threes he attempts, his shooting numbers will look significantly better.

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