John Wall ahead of schedule in rehab, but does not set timeline for return

More relevant than chemistry, new faces, team bonding or anything else for the Washington Wizards is the state of John Wall’s knees.

Both were operated on in May. Wall had loose particles removed from his right knee and calcium deposits removed from his left patella tendon. At the end of last season, his knees ached enough that the Wizards’ franchise player sat out the final fives games of the season.

Wall has progressed from working on his own, to playing 1-on-1, then 3-on-3. He had a “great” workout Monday morning, according to Wizards coach Scott Brooks. Neither will set a timeline for Wall, who is clearly cognizant of the fact he will be an unrestricted free agent in three years when he is 29 years old, to return.

“I’m in no rush,” Wall said. “Coming into year 7 and just understanding that this is more important for my future, down the road for my career and not just rushing my way back and then probably don’t know how much time I would have left to play in my career. Just taking my time and making sure everything’s feeling right. It’s a long season.”

Brooks said Wall will be able to participate in portions of practice when it begins Tuesday on VCU’s campus in Richmond.

“I think he’s progressed well,” Brooks said. “As the summer has gone on and he’s ramped up his workload, he’s went from 1-on-0 to me guarding him _ which was not very pretty _ to players guarding him 1-on-1, he’s been doing some 3-on-3, so we’re going to have a big chunk of practice where he can participate in. but we’re in no rush. I think he’s progressing well. I don’t want to put any time on it. But I know that he’s making strides and we’re excited about it. Obviously he’s one of the best point guards in this league. You want all your players healthy and when that time comes, we’ll put him on and have him do everything.”

No matter the rate of his progress, the Wizards are prepared to work him gently back onto the floor during the preseason. Washington has about three roster spots open, so it will have to give those players a long look. It also has two new point guards — Trey Burke and Tomas Satoransky — to work into a new system. There’s no reason  to hurry Wall back, and it appears the Wizards will not.