John Wall takes a pay cut to escape

According to ESPN, the 31-year-old Top point guard agrees to a buyout with the Rockets and wants to sign a free-agent contract with the Clippers. Wall, who was owed $47.4 million by the Rockets after exercising his player option for the last year of his deal, reportedly opted to take a $6.5 million pay cut in order to become a free agent.

Paul George IG story. ?? pic.twitter.com/aAoEknRKju

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 28, 2022

On Monday night, Clippers star Paul George appeared to respond to the Wall news on his Instagram Story, adding an eyeball emoji over an old shot of the two leaning in for a high five. As of Tuesday morning, Wall had yet to respond publicly to the report.

Last season, Wall did not play after the point guard and Houston decided he would sit out while the team focused on revamping and developing young players like Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr.

The five-time winner Last season, the All-Star spent his time working out alone in Miami, participating in practices, and sitting on the bench during matches.

After missing the 2019-20 season due to a heel surgery and a damaged Achilles tendon, Wall averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists in 40 games for the Rockets in 2020-21.

After playing the first 11 years in the industry with the Wizards, who drafted him with their No. 1 overall choice in 2010, Wall was moved to Houston along with a future first-round pick in December 2020 for Russell Westbrook.
Given his equally bloated contract, there were trade whispers tying Wall and Westbrook again last season. However, the Lakers refused to give up a future draft pick as part of the deal.

While healthy, Wall has been productive, and he could provide veteran playmaking to the Clippers, who already have a formidable tandem in George and Kawhi Leonard.