Rockets fans should celebrate recently retired former franchise star

The Houston Rockets took a rollercoaster ride with John Wall. Now, he's retiring.

As a Rockets fan, you might remember his absence more than his presence. The Rockets infamously sent Wall home in their bid to tank. He carried more dead money than the man with the world's largest collection of 2.5-cent Dutch coins. It was the beginning of the end of Wall's illustrious NBA career.

Rockets didn't accomplish much with John Wall

So, we're going to do the right thing. We're going to remember Wall's Rockets career briefly, and then reflect on his Wizards career more thoroughly.

When the Rockets acquired Wall and a protected first-round pick for Russell Westbrook, the plan wasn't clear. Nobody knew that the Rockets would tank. It seemed Houston wanted to get a look at a team built around Wall, Victor Oladipo and Christian Wood. The trio was dubbed the "WOW factor". In hindsight, that's appropriate:

As in "wow, this is not a playoff core!".

The Rockets learned that quickly. Wall averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists per game in his first season with Houston, but he'd lost a step. His 49.8 True Shooting % (TS%) was his worst mark since his rookie campaign.

He didn't play the final year of his deal. He signed with the Clippers for 2022-23, but he was done. It was a shame:

In his prime, Wall was one of the best players in the NBA.

His best season was 2016-17. Wall averaged 23.1 points and 10.7 assists per game with a 4.7 Box Plus/Minus (BPM). He garnered serious MVP consideration.

Wall was a blur. He was among the fastest players in the NBA and had an impressively sturdy handle for a player constantly operating at breakneck speed. Wall was among the best drive-and-kick players in the NBA. His ability to penetrate to the rim and make smart passing reads when his layup was stifled made him a special player.

He should be remembered fondly. He's arguably the best Wizard since Wes Unseld. Even Rockets fans should not begrudge him. Wall didn't ask to sit. It was simply a prudent decision for the organization:

Besides, he should leave a lasting legacy in Houston for an entirely different reason.

Rockets can thank Wall for young star

The Rockets didn't just trade Westbrook for Wall. They landed a lottery-protected first in the process. It's a pick that's likely to convey into a 2027 second-rounder, so it's not a particularly valuable one. Either way, the Rockets didn't keep it for long:

They traded it to the Thunder for Alperen Sengun.

So, Wall remains intrinsically tied to the Rockets' future. They landed a young star partly because they acquired him. That's worth noting for a Rockets fan, but if you support the Wizards, or just love the league in general, Wall's legacy is richer:

Even if his Rockets legacy is a bit more complicated.