Should the Utah Jazz target John Wall if he’s bought out?
The case against the Utah Jazz pursuing John Wall
The case against the Utah Jazz acquiring John Wall is no more complicated than the case for pursuing him. The guy can flat out play, but he doesn’t play the way the Jazz would need him too.
We already mentioned the 31.7% three-point percentage, but his career 27.7% Usage Rate may not bode well in a second unit that already features Jordan Clarkson, who posted a 30.4% Usage Rate last season. Wall’s ball-dominance might run the risk of alienating savvy playmaking wing Joe Ingles, who is already tasked with finding his offense in the context of Clarkson’s on-ball play.
While Clarkson is struggling from three-point range this season with a 25.9% three-point percentage, he is a more naturally talented three-point shooter than Wall if career averages are to be trusted. On the one hand, this may suggest a logical backcourt pairing, with Wall playing the role of distributor and Clarkson aiming primarily to score.
That feels like a stretch. Quin Snyder’s offensive system emphasizes three-point shooting, and often of the unassisted variety. It feels unlikely that he’d overhaul his entire style for the second unit to accommodate Wall when his team, as stated, already has the best Offensive Rating in the league. Snyder is comfortable with the ball in Clarkson’s hands. He’s unlikely to shift it to Wall’s for any significant stretches when Wall has never been a competent three-point shooter.
From the standpoint of purely aggregating talent, acquiring Wall would be a no-brainer for the Utah Jazz. Unfortunately for the former Kentucky Wildcat, the fit concerns may be too major for the Jazz to consider that option.
Next. The one Jazz player showing significant signs of growth. dark
This was a bit of an agonizing decision. We think Wall could be a good addition to the Utah Jazz with some significant caveats. He’d have to be comfortable with a substantially reduced usage rate, he’d need to tighten up his three-point shot selection, and he’d need to improve on his -1.6 Defensive Box Plus/Minus (DBPM) from last season. Unfortunately, his ability to accomplish all of those tasks is just too questionable for the Jazz to consider adding him.
Verdict: Pass