John Wall fits perfectly with the LA Clippers

The recruit that gave Kentucky basketball its swagger back looks to make his Ali-like return to an NBA court this season. The Houston Rockets bought out John Wall’s contract last week for a nominal $40.9 million dollars, making him an unrestricted free agent. Although many teams expressed interest in the 5-time All-Star’s services, Wall chose to sign with the LA Clippers.

Walled opted into this $47 million player option for this season with no intention of dawning a Rockets jersey again. Similarly, Houston, in full rebuild mode, knew it had little use for a disgruntled, high-paid veteran. As such, they obliged his request for the extremely expensive contract divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

Instead, the Rockets plan to cultivate their young talent, including recently-drafted TyTy Washington. The rookie will likely see a good chunk of point guard minutes in the absence of his fellow Kentucky alumnus.

Wall, on the other hand, after a long period of uncertainty, lands with the LA Clippers who become sure-fire contenders in the West. Simply put, this match feels like a majestic fit all the way around.

The LA Clippers form a Big Three eager for vengeance

John Wall will join forces with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard to form a trio of grizzled veterans coming off serious injuries and ready to exact their vengeance upon the league.

It will be sort of like the movie, The Expendables, except with main characters who are not quite as over-the-hill. I can see John Wall (32), Paul George (32), and Kawhi Leonard (31), all scruffy-bearded and scowling, walking slowly toward the camera as explosions go off behind them on their way into the season-opening press conference.

Leonard missed all of the 2021-22 season rehabbing from a torn ACL. George played just 31 games last season after suffering an elbow injury. And Wall hasn’t played a meaningful game since 2018 after a series of injuries, infections, and inopportune team situations.

But do not expect these guys to limp in as mere shadows of their former selves. This will not be like watching a group of geriatric action heroes offering nothing but nostalgia to fans who enjoyed their primes. All of these players are in their early 30s, an age where they might not have as quick of a first step as they did a decade ago, but will still be extremely capable of dominating.

In their last full season, all three players averaged more than 20 points per game. I understand the hesitancy to call this newly-formed group the antiquated moniker, Big Three. However, if these guys return close to their capabilities, this nickname will fit.

And now, the rest of the roster

John Wall provides an immediate upgrade to Reggie Jackson, the Clippers’ starting point guard last season. They may keep him around, but it might make sense to put him on the trading block. His expiring $11 million contract could serve as prime trade bait during the offseason.

Nicolas Batum re-signed last week as well. Batum is another veteran, though not as grizzled as our aforementioned action heroes. He averaged 8.3 points per game for the Clippers last season, shooting 40 percent from behind the arc. He will play the role of Al Horford-lite as the starting power forward.

Down low, the Clippers will have Ivica Zubac, who recently signed a three-year, $33 million extension to stay in Los Angeles. The Clippers flirted with the idea of trading Zubac in the past, but after putting up a career-high 10.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season, the team felt confident committing to the Bosnian big man.

Of course, the roster is not finalized and deals will be plentiful around the league, but as of now, here is what it looks like. We could see a starting lineup of Wall-Leonard-George-Batum-Zubac with a more-than-capable Normal Powell, a dynamic youngster Terance Mann, a sharp-shooting Luke Kennard, and maybe even an emerging sophomore in Brandon Boston Jr. coming off the bench.

That team will be hard to beat, and if both Boston and Wall excel, could steal the hearts of Kentucky fans.

What to (realistically) expect

The Pacific Division is absolutely loaded. Along with the revitalized Clippers, the defending champion Golden State Warriors, the regular-season win-leading Phoenix Suns, and the always-lethal (especially with a healthy Anthony Davis) Los Angeles Lakers could realistically be the top four seeds in the Western Conference.

It may take John Wall and the Clippers more than a handful of games to get back into a rhythm. I don’t expect to see gang-buster numbers from day one. Between having so much time off and trying to gel with new teammates, it will take a while to get his feet under him.

However, there will be a lot of wins with a Wall-Leonard-George trio leading the charge. Perhaps not many smiles, but plenty of wins.

If nothing else, John Wall could potentially wear #11 again. That is just speculation, but the number is available, unlike it was with his previous two teams. And the thought of him throwing down left-handed dunks in a blue #11 jersey on a winning basketball team makes me way more excited than it probably should.

Maybe some action hero nostalgia isn’t so bad after all.