Report: Knicks would have interest in John Wall trade if opportunity presented itself

Let the rumor mill commence, and unsurprisingly, the current postseason hasn’t even come to a close yet. The New York Knicks have been injected right into the middle of what many hope to be a lucrative off-season full of splashy moves and exciting new players to add to an elevating roster.

Thanks to head coach Tom Thibodeau, newly named “Coach of the Year,” the likelihood of the Knicks actually landing a star player has increased tenfold compared to recent seasons when the best they could manage was mediocre talent at an overpriced rate.

Luckily, they stumbled upon Julius Randle with hopes he would blossom into a premier player, and he did just that during the regular season. However, it is clear the Knicks desperately need a long-term solution at point guard, and they will likely be connected to various players this off-season, including big names like Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, and Lonzo Ball.

Let’s add another name to the list, John Wall, who missed a big chunk of the 2021 season with a hamstring injury.

Traditionally, Wall is one of the best point guards in the NBA, having played 40 games this past season at 30 years old. He has a history of injury concerns but averaged 20.6 points, 6.9 assists, and shot .404 from the field this year. He proved that his injury last year did not completely derail his career, and the Knicks might be able to acquire him for far less than Lillard would command.

Wall is currently on a four-year, $171 million deal and will be paid $44 million next season with a player option in 2022. Considering he has only one guaranteed year left on his contract, the Knicks would have to approach this carefully, not giving up too much value for a high-priced player who seems to have significant injury issues and could leave them after just one season.

Personally, I think I would stay away from Wall, but the Knicks want to put their name in the hat with every big point guard to sput competition in free agency. The more attention they gain and hype they can build around New York, the more likely it becomes they land one of their premier targets. Wall might just be a pawn in their strategy as they try to land a king.