Another brick in the Wall for Wizards
All in all John Wall is not just another brick in the wall for the Washington Wizards, he is the foundation, the foundation of a franchise which desperately needs a new start.
Doing what everyone knew what they were going to do, Washington selected the 19-year-old point guard with the first overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft.
Wall becomes the first player from Kentucky to be selected first overall and was the first of five Kentucky players to be drafted.
"I feel like I had pressure since I became No. 1 in high school and was one of the top players," Wall said.
"I always got there hungry wanting to fight hard and compete in every game, so when I step on the court I'm going to take on any challenge there."
Wall joins a Wizards team which had an embarrassing season both on and off the court. Expected to challenge for a play-off place, Washington failed to click as a team and when star point guard Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the rest of the season at the turn of the year for brining guns into the locker room, the Wizards began to fire sale.
Trading away Caron Butler to Dallas and Antwan Jameson to Cleveland the Wizards eventually finished the season with a 26-56 record. Winning the NBA lottery was the only bright spot for a franchise which also lost their long-time owner Abe Pollin.
Selecting Wall does create a position problem for the Wiz, who already have Arenas playing at the point. But with the team trying to trade the onetime cornerstone of its franchise, Wall could yet be the starting point guard and is ready to lead his new team.
“I was always a leader by example being the first in the gym and the last in the gym, I’m a leader that doesn’t mind speaking up to the older guys,” Wall said.
All signs point towards Arenas being traded with the Wizards trading for Kirk Hinrich, another point guard, just before the draft. All that is required now is for someone to take Arenas off of the Wizards’ hands.
Wall is already being compared to 2008 first pick Derrick Rose and if Wall plays like Rose did it might just be best to leave that kid alone.
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