Report: Injured Wizards' Wall in buyout talks with Adidas

Injured WashingtonWizards All-Star guard John Wall is in buyout talks with Adidas for the final three years of his second contract with the apparel company, ESPN reported. Wall re-signed with Adidas in 2018 but has been sidelined for three weeks after putting pen to paper on that deal. Wall missed 27 games with a knee injury and then suffered a torn left Achilles in February.

Wizards owner Ted Leonsis said prior to the season that it's unlikely Wall will play at all in 2019-20. The team applied for a disabled player exception, which is subject to NBA review, furthering the notion Wall will be sidelined until at least next season.

If approved, the Wizards would get an exception equal to the amount of the non-taxpayer, mid-level exception. That amount, slated to be $9.258 million this season, could be used to either sign a free agent, trade for a player in the last season of his contract or make a waiver claim. The league won't make a decision on the Wizards' request until the five-time All-Star gets a medical review from an NBA-designated physician or "fitness to play" panel.

For the exception to be granted, the physician or panel must determine that the injury likely will force Wall to miss the entire 2019-20 season. Wall averaged 20.7 points, 8.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 32 games last season.

Wall was previously under contract with Reebok for a shoe and apparel deal. The Adidas NBA stable includes Portland Trail Blazers All-Star Damian Lillard, Detroit Pistons point guard Derrick Rose and Houston Rockets All-Star forward James Harden.