Does John Wall make sense?
The Miami Heat are reportedly willing to take on John Wall‘s contract if it means they’d acquire Beal in the same package, according to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson.
Packaging a deal that would land Wall and Beal in Detroit would mean a change in the frontcourt. There’s no way to acquire both without dealing Andre Drummond. He has had an illustrious career in Detroit and will be due for a max extension next summer.
Taking on Wall, who is due to make $38 million in 2019-20 while sitting out with an Achilles injury, would likely reduce the assets necessary to acquire Beal. Wall is set to make $123.8 million over the next three years and can opt-in to a $47.4 million player option for the 2022-23 season.
In this potential deal, the Pistons would insert Wall and Beal into the starting lineup with Tony Snell, Blake Griffin and Markieff Morris. The Pistons are already thin in the frontcourt, particularly at center, and this would make them smaller up front.
It also doesn’t make sense to take on Wall’s contract when the strength is the point guard position, but it would sure things up for the future.
When healthy, Wall is an incredible talent, averaging 19 points, 9.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game over his career. In three seasons from 2014-17, he averaged a double-double. That’s All-NBA caliber and would be an upgrade over what the Pistons have had at the position. However, his health remains in question, having only played 73 games over the last two seasons and the upcoming season in question.
Both Wiz of Awes co-experts Matt Levin and Ethan Smith agree that including Wall is not smart for the Wizards.
"“Lumping Wall’s contract in with Beal devalues Beal as an asset if they’re really looking to rebuild,” Smith said. “They can get better packages for Beal without Wall and the cap hit would hurt a lot less if he’s the only big contract on a team thats totally rebuilding. They’d get a clean slate but probably would have nothing to build with.”"
This trade wouldn’t make the Pistons better immediately. Wall’s health would determine if the Pistons would be better off. Pairing Wall’s contract with Griffin’s isn’t ideal for upgrading the roster through the offseason, either, and would likely deadlock the Pistons for the next four years.
Not ideal.