Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are potentially taking a step toward John Wall's return to the court.

Houston Chronicle writer Jonathan Feigen reported Monday that Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said the team is working Wall back into game shape. Feigen noted that the process is expected to take "a couple weeks" while conversations between Wall and Houston continue.

Wall has yet to play this season while Houston is in the middle of a rebuild and focusing on its younger players. The Rockets have also been unable to find a trade partner for the five-time All-Star point guard because of the money remaining on his contract.

Wall is owed $91.7 million over the next two seasons. The 31-year-old signed a four-year contract extension worth $170 million with the Washington Wizards in 2017. He holds a player option worth $47.4 million for the 2022-23 season, which has factored into teams' reluctance to trade for him.

On Sunday, Wall denied a report that his return to Houston this season has been hindered by his desire to be the team's No. 1 option. NBA analyst Jordan Schultz reported that Wall "wants to have the green light, at all times," but Wall said that was "a lie."

Wall played 40 games for Houston last season after being acquired from Washington as part of a deal for Russell Westbrook. He averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists. Injuries have limited Wall to just 113 games over the last four years. He missed the entire 2019-20 season because of a torn Achilles.

If Wall does eventually return to the Rockets lineup, he will be tasked with helping develop a young core. Houston is 3-16 and no player on the team averages more than 20 points. Christian Wood leads the Rockets with 16.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game and 2021 No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green averages 14.0 points on 38.2 percent shooting.

Former All-Star point guard John Wall has yet to see the floor for the Houston Rockets this season as the team is undergoing a rebuild and focusing on its younger players.

It doesn't seem that Wall will return to the court anytime soon. NBA analyst Jordan Schultz reported that Wall's situation won't change because he sees himself as the No. 1 option on the team, but the 31-year-old called the report "a lie."

Houston has been unable to find a trade partner that would take on Wall, particularly because of his contract. He signed a four-year contract extension worth $170 million with the Washington Wizards in 2017 and is owed $91.7 million over the next two seasons. Wall is expected to pick up a player option worth $47.4 million for the 2022-23 season, making teams hesitant to acquire him.

The Rockets acquired Wall last season in a deal that sent Russell Westbrook to the Wizards. In 40 games for Houston, Wall averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists.

Known for his speed and quickness, Wall was once one of the most explosive point guards in the league. But the five-time All-Star has been unable to stay healthy in recent years as injuries have limited him to 113 games over the last four seasons. He sat out all of 2019-20 because of a torn Achilles.

The Rockets are last in the Western Conference with a 3-16 record. Houston has been developing its young core, led by 2021 No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green, who is 19, and 21-year-old third-year guard Kevin Porter Jr.

No player on the Rockets averages more than 20 points. Fourth-year center Christian Wood leads the team with 16.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Green has gone through some rookie growing pains and averages 14.0 points on 38.2 percent shooting.

Houston will go for its third straight win Monday at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

John Wall certainly looks like he wants to return to the court.

The Houston Rockets point guard, who has yet to play this season, posted a video of himself practicing with the message "Born Ready, Been Ready" and the hashtag "#FreeMe."

This comes after ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wall met with Rockets general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Stephen Silas to discuss his role. Wojnarowski noted the University of Kentucky product would like the opportunity to compete for a starting role.

While the two sides did not agree on whether he will play at some point this season, the message Wall posted made it fairly clear where he stands on the issue.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported before the season that Houston and Wall agreed to work together to seek a trade so the team can turn its attention to its younger players and the future and he could perhaps have the opportunity to play for a contender.

However, Wojnarowski reported Saturday that Wall told the team he would like to play.

That is particularly notable since the ESPN insider previously reported a trade seemed unlikely since teams would want him to decline his $47.4 million player option for the 2022-23 campaign, which is something Wall is not looking to do at this point.

The Rockets are just 3-16 this season, which is the worst record in the NBA.

They have young building blocks in Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr., and Wall wouldn't exactly be adding a playoff-tested veteran to a team in the postseason chase.

Still, there was a time when Wall was one of the better point guards in the league. He was a five-time All-Star during his time with the Washington Wizards and would consistently use his athleticism to beat defenders in transition and in half-court sets.

Injuries have been the major storyline for him of late after he played 41 games in 2017-18, 32 games in 2018-19 and 40 games in 2020-21 while missing the 2019-20 campaign.

Perhaps the 31-year-old can return to the court and prove he is still a capable playmaker if he and the Rockets can come to some type of agreement.         

Houston Rockets point guard John Wall has taken another step as he seeks a return to game action for the first time since April. 

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Wall met with Rockets general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Stephen Silas on Sunday to "to discuss a possible return to play and a role on the team."

Wojnarowski did note there is no agreement yet between Wall and the Rockets about him potentially playing in games. 

Before the regular season started, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Wall and the Rockets agreed to work together on finding a potential trade partner for the five-time All-Star. 

As part of the agreement, Charania noted that Wall would "remain present" around the Rockets at training camp, but he wouldn't appear in games. 

On the Nov. 10 edition of ESPN's NBA Countdown, Wojnarowski reported it was "increasingly likely" that Wall wouldn't appear in a game this season. 

"There are no plans for John Wall to play for the Rockets [this season]. It's becoming increasingly likely that John Wall may not play anywhere in the NBA this season," Wojnarowski said, "because the cost of his contract right now is just too prohibitive."

There has been no indication that Wall is interested in a buyout. The 31-year-old is making $44.3 million this season and has a $47.4 million player option for 2022-23, per Spotrac. 

Houston acquired Wall and a 2023 lottery-protected first-round draft pick from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Russell Westbrook in December 2020. 

Wall appeared in 40 games for the Rockets last season. He averaged 20.6 points per game on 40.4 percent shooting and 6.9 assists per contest. 

The Rockets have fully embraced their roster rebuild, with Kevin Porter Jr. (21 years old) and Jalen Green (19) both in the starting lineup. They have won back-to-back games after dropping 15 straight from Oct. 24-Nov. 22.    

Houston Rockets point guard John Wall has not played this year as his team looks for a home to trade the five-time All-Star.

However, Wall has spoken with the team about returning to the active roster for the time being.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski broke that news Saturday on Twitter:

Houston Rockets guard John Wall has expressed his hopes to the organization that he can resume playing for the team in the near future, sources tell ESPN. Story soon.

Wall and Rockets had agreed on him sitting out until a trade could be found, but the five-time All-Star guard talked to Houston general manager Rafael Stone on Friday about restarting a dialogue on a return to the active roster, sources said. Sides plan to talk again on Sunday.

The 31-year-old Wall has averaged 19.1 points, 9.1 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game for his NBA career, which began in 2010 with the Washington Wizards.

Wall landed on the Houston Rockets as part of a deal that sent Russell Westbrook to the Wizards. The former Kentucky star averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists in 32.2 minutes over 40 games for the Rockets last year.

Houston is in the midst of a significant rebuild after the end of the James Harden era, with the team focused on young talent.

Of note, the Rockets added four first-round picks to the roster in July, including Jalen Green with the No. 2 overall pick.

There have naturally been some serious growing pains, with the team starting 2-16. It is in no position to compete for a playoff spot, and earning the NBA's worst record appears likely.

That makes Wall an odd fit, as he's likely better suited on a contending team with playoff or championship aspirations.

However, he's also got a $47.3 million player option he can use in 2022-23, and that could be a serious obstacle toward any potential trade. The 2023 free agent to be is due $44.3 million this year.

A trade hasn't happened yet, and it's possible the Rockets won't find a suitor any time soon. Therefore, Wall may as well play, although there is a fine line both sides have to walk.

Wojnarowski added more information on that.

"For Wall to play this season, there is likely a compromise that needs to be found between respecting Wall’s stature as an All-Star on a super-max contract and Rockets’ desire to have him play a complementary role to help develop their young core," the ESPN writer tweeted.

For now, the Rockets are looking to build off the momentum of their stunning 118-113 win over the Chicago Bulls when they play the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday.

Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green will miss at least one week with a hamstring injury.

Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Green will be re-evaluated in a week after being diagnosed with a strained hamstring. 

Green suffered the injury during Wednesday's win over the Chicago Bulls. He also dealt with a hamstring injury during Summer League play before making his regular-season debut.

Keeping Green, who was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft, healthy is far more important for the Rockets' long-term goals than making sure he is back on the floor in the immediate future since they are not true contenders this season.

The rookie is averaging 14 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in his first season while shooting 38.2 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from three-point range.

Green's explosiveness stands out, which helps him cut to the basket or attack off the bounce in half-court sets while also getting out in transition. It surely played a role in Houston's decision to select him so early in the draft and make him a franchise cornerstone.

The Rockets likely won't look to rush him back, so the combination of Armoni Brooks, Garrison Mathews and David Nwaba should see more playing time.         

Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas downplayed any concerns about his job security after his team's 118-113 home win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.

"I don’t need, like, approval," Silas said, per Jackson Gatlin of the Locked on Rockets Podcast.

"I believe in what I do. I think I’m good at it. The players respond when I challenge them or coach them. Whether we won or lost tonight, I’m the same coach."

Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reported Wednesday that the Rockets were "weighing the future" of the second-year head coach.

The Houston Rockets have lost 15 straight games since their Oct. 22 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Even for a franchise clearly trying to rebuild, such a drought can erode morale and optimism among players and team staffers. 

Now, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation have indicated to B/R that Rockets brass are weighing the future of Stephen Silas, who may become the league's next coach to be terminated, following Luke Walton's exit in Sacramento last weekend.

Silas is coaching a very young Rockets team (average age: 25.4 years) that added four first-round picks to its roster this offseason and underwent a compete overhaul over the past few years.

The results have been predictably bad, with the team going 2-16 over their first 18 games.

Still, they have been competitive against some good teams, and that resolve ended with a win over the now 12-7 Bulls, who are tied for second in the Eastern Conference.

Ultimately, Silas is in a no-win situation after the roster blew up amid the end of the James Harden era last January.

"They put him in a tough position," one assistant general manager told Fischer.

"[Silas] is genuinely one of the nicest people in the NBA. He actually cares about people. To put him with a bunch of really young dudes who probably don't care about anything but their numbers and playing time, he's just not the right fit."

For now, Silas remains the coach as he looks to guide the Rockets to greater heights. Their next game is Saturday at home against the Charlotte Hornets.

Houston Rockets rookie guard Jalen Green suffered a leg injury in the first half of Wednesday night's game against the Chicago Bulls and was subsequently ruled out. 

Green scored 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting before he was pulled. 

Green was the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft after a year in the G League Ignite program. He enjoyed a prolific prep career that included helping Team USA win the U17 and U19 FIBA World Cups in recent years.

The dynamic offensive talent has averaged 14.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 17 games so far in his debut campaign.

Green made his unofficial Houston debut as part of the Las Vegas Summer League, but he was sidelined by a hamstring injury that led the team to shut him down for the remainder of the tournament.

The 19-year-old California native should see his role grow steadily throughout his rookie season, but the team has enough backcourt depth to overcome a short-term absence. Armoni Brooks is among the reserves who could receive more minutes.

Since Green is such an important part of the Rockets' future as they attempt to turn a corner in their rebuilding efforts, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the team remain conservative with his recovery whenever he's forced out of the lineup with an injury. 

The Houston Rockets have lost 15 straight games since their Oct. 22 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Even for a franchise clearly trying to rebuild, such a drought can erode morale and optimism among players and team staffers. 

Now, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation have indicated to B/R that Rockets brass are weighing the future of Stephen Silas, who may become the league's next coach to be terminated, following Luke Walton's exit in Sacramento last weekend. 

But unlike Walton, there were no playoff expectations for Houston. Instead, GM Rafael Stone's front office has directed the coaching staff to develop and feature Houston's younger prospects such as Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green, sources said. 

Silas, though, was not hired to steer a rebuild. When Silas, Jeff Van Gundy and Rockets assistant John Lucas interviewed with former GM Daryl Morey for the position during the 2020 offseason, each were required to meet with James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Morey is now the president in Philadelphia. Harden and Westbrook, of course, are gone as well. 

After Morey stepped away from the organization, Stone was elevated and hired Silas while the franchise still intended to convince Harden to stay. The Rockets, for example, declined Minnesota's offer for PJ Tucker that would have brought back a first-round pick. But Harden only played eight games under Silas before he was traded to Brooklyn, and then Houston pivoted into rebuild mode. 

"They put him in a tough position," said one assistant general manager. "[Silas] is genuinely one of the nicest people in the NBA. He actually cares about people. To put him with a bunch of really young dudes who probably don't care about anything but their numbers and playing time, he's just not the right fit."

When the Rockets and former All-Star point guard John Wall, acquired in exchange for Westbrook, agreed to sit the veteran towards the end of last season, and continued that arrangement this fall, it appeared clear that Houston once again set its sights on a trip to the lottery. While no Rocket staffer expected to start 1-16, there was little forecast that Silas' team would fare much better. 

"What was he supposed to do this year, exactly?" added a Western Conference executive. 

But Silas' coaching performance has been met with some critics around the league. Rival coaches characterize the Rockets offense as disorganized and undisciplined, with chronic turnover issues and poor shot selection. They boast the league's worst offensive efficiency and assist-to-turnover ratio.

It's fair to blame their inexperienced roster. The Rockets are one of the youngest teams in the NBA this season. The team's return for Harden, which could have netted Ben Simmons and Matisse Thybulle from Morey's Sixers, did not leave the Rockets with a blue chip cornerstone. Houston rerouted Jarrett Allen, sources said, after deeming him and forward Christian Wood a suboptimal front court pairing.

Silas has recently made greater efforts to be firmer with Houston's young core, quicker to yank players for shot selection, turnovers, and defensive breakdowns. 

By all accounts, Stone and Silas remain close, riding on team flights and evaluating game film together. But Stone is more hands-on than the typical NBA general manager. 

On one occasion, Stone walked onto the practice court to preach defensive philosophy, sources said, and is known to consult players on tactical improvements. If he were to make a change at head coach, it seems Stone would maintain a similar level of influence over the coaching staff and Rockets' rotation, an increasing trend around the NBA. 

Multiple sources suggested Lucas as the likely interim head coach in any event Silas is dismissed. Lucas, the longtime Houston assistant and player development lead, is known to hold a particularly strong connection with Stone, and even trains Stone's kids. 

Rockets staffers are not waiting for this shoe drop the same way Kings personnel anticipated Walton's dismissal in Sacramento. Still, the rumors circulating Houston have grown louder this week, where Silas has just one year remaining on his contract following this season. 

The Miami Heat already have Kyle Lowry, but they would reportedly be interested in landing another veteran point guard if he became available.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Miami would consider signing John Wall if his contract with the Houston Rockets was bought out.

Still, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski previously reported that is quite unlikely since the University of Kentucky product is not inclined to give up the $44.4 million in salary he is making this season or his $47.4 million player option for next season.

Wojnarowski explained any team that traded for Wall would want him to decline his upcoming player option.

"There are no plans for John Wall to play for the Rockets, and it's becoming increasingly likely that John Wall may not play anywhere in the NBA this season because the cost of his contract right now is just too prohibitive," Wojnarowski said.

From Houston's perspective, the team is in the early stages of a rebuild and is focusing on the development of young players such as Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr.

There was a time when Wall was among the best point guards in the league.

He used his explosive athleticism to get out in transition or blow past defenders in half-court sets and was a five-time All-Star during his time with the Washington Wizards. He averaged 19.0 points, 9.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game across nine seasons with the Wizards.

However, injuries have been a major problem during the second half of his career.

He played just 41 games in 2017-18, 32 games in 2018-19 and 40 games in 2020-21. He also missed the entire 2019-20 campaign with a torn Achilles.

While he is someone with playoff experience who could provide a spark for the Heat off the bench, it seems like a long shot that he will be returning to the court anytime soon.