John Wall set to join LA Clippers after reaching buyout with Houston Rockets, sources say

Security guards after agreeing to acquire Houston Rockets John wall Sources told ESPN on Monday that they will sign a free agent agreement with the LA Clippers.

After exercising player options in the final year of the deal, Wall, who received $ 47.4 million from Rockets, agreed to reduce $ 6.5 million to become a free agent, sources told ESPN. This is about the same as the taxpayer’s mid-level exception amount and can be received as Wall becomes able to negotiate a transaction with the Clippers.

Rockets wanted to reach an agreement with Wall before the free agent started Thursday and maximize their options when choosing the next team, sources said.

Rocket and Wall, 31, have reached a mutual decision that veteran guards will not play with Houston last season in the early stages of reconstruction.Instead, Rockets prioritized training young guards. Kevin Porter Jr. When Jalen GreenAs a result, Wall did not meet the franchise’s plans, despite a salary of $ 44.3 million.

Wall averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists in 40 rocket games in 2020-21, proving that he can perform at a high level even after missing the first half of the previous season due to heel surgery and Achilles tendon rupture. He spent part of last season with Rockets, attending practice, sitting on the bench during the game, and training himself in Miami for the rest of the time.

Wall traded to Houston with picks for the first round of the future Russell Westbrook After spending the first 11 years of his career at the Washington Wizards, he was named No. 1 overall in the 2010 Draft in December 2020.At the time, Rockets considered themselves competitors, but when they were former MVPs, the franchise changed direction dramatically. James Harden Forced trading early in the 2020-21 season.

A wall with an average career of 19.1 points and an assist of 9.1 meets the needs of the Clippers playmakers of teams aiming for the championship. Kawhi Leonard He returned after missing the 2021-22 season while recovering from a partially torn ACL on his right knee. Reggie Jackson The Clippers reached 42-40, averaging 16.8 points and 4.8 assists as a starting point guard for the LA last season when they were eliminated in the play-in game.