WASHINGTON – John Wall reluctantly went under the knife for the first time in his life and now he was bedridden, unable to move or shower because of surgeries on both knees, and feeling quite icky in his room at Cleveland Clinic. His mother, Frances Pulley, was at his side on Mother's Day. His agent, Rich Paul, and a few friends stopped by to check in. But another visitor, whom Wall had never met before being hospitalized in Cleveland, left an impression when he decided to hang out with him over the course of two days.

View photos Wizards guard John Wall is looking forward to working with Scott Brooks. (AP) More

Wall and new Washington Wizards coach Scott Brooks picked each other's brains on basketball philosophy and strategy, and discussed their plans to elevate a franchise that missed the postseason after back-to-back second-round exits. The conversations were encouraging for Wall as he began a new relationship with his third coach in six years in Washington. And one comment in particular stood out for the three-time All-Star point guard.

"He told me I haven’t reached nearly my potential," Wall told The Vertical on Thursday after receiving the NBA Cares Community Assist Award, "and that’s something I like to hear, because I haven’t. I’ve just showed glimpses of what I can be."

When the Wizards hired Brooks to replace Randy Wittman in April, the prevailing storyline was that the former coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder would be able to use his close relationship with former MVP Kevin Durant to bring home the summer's most coveted free agent.

"In my opinion, that’s not why we hired him," Wall told The Vertical. "I feel if [Brooks] can make a pitch, and I can make a pitch and [Durant] comes, it’s great. I think we do need another star here, another great player to [get over] that next hump. You need three stars to win this league."

Wall has formed a good friendship with Durant over the years – both players maintain offseason residences in Los Angeles – and has been outspoken about wanting to play with Durant. Washington, Boston, Miami, Golden State and San Antonio are among the many teams expected to pursue Durant when the free-agent negotiation period gets underway July 1. Durant has sounded lukewarm, at best, about the prospects of playing in his hometown and was in no mood to discuss his future after the Thunder lost a heartbreaking seven-game series to the Warriors in the Western Conference finals.

"If he comes, he comes, if not, got to make other plans," Wall said. "But that’s something I haven’t talked to him about. I’m not willing to right now. He just came off a tough series. I’m trying to give him a couple of weeks, a month off, to think about what he wants to do."

Brooks certainly wasn't hired just to lure one player to Washington after leading the Thunder to an NBA Finals trip and four 50-win seasons – heights of success the Washington franchise hasn’t reached since Jimmy Carter was president. "I like him a lot. He has a great mind for the game. He’s a point guard, so he knows how to run a game," Wall told The Vertical about Brooks. "He can use me like a Russell Westbrook of the group, with me as John Wall, myself. I think he wants me to be aggressive."

The Wizards intend to retain Wall's backcourt mate, Bradley Beal, who had a disappointing, injury-marred season but maintains his desire for a max contract when he hits restricted free agency this summer. With close to $28 million in salary-cap space, the Wizards have the means to improve after making every effort – such as letting Trevor Ariza and Paul Pierce walk in consecutive years – to secure room for this offseason.

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