LaMelo Traded to Minnesota

squashnut · Post #81 » by **squashnut** » Fri Apr 17, 2026 9:09 pm

Look what elite scorer Maravich does when he is knocked over, at 14:14...
https://youtu.be/moSK8wgNW-E
Natural reaction.

GoBobs · Post #82 » by **GoBobs** » Fri Apr 17, 2026 11:33 pm

Look, LaMelo got a lot of haters....

Every year when I evaluate players I ask one simple question. What did you do last year?

LaMelo is #2 in the League in made 3pt shots on for the 2025-2026 season. He just played 72 games and gave us 20/7/5 in 28 minutes.

Player A per 36: 25/10.5/6
Player B per 36: 26/9/6

Player A is Cade and Player B is LaMelo. Somehow Cade is a media darling and LaMelo is a guy who is a clown?

The numbers tell a different story.

Charles Lee is the clown for even thinking about benching LaMelo much less doing it. Get a real coach in here.

GiggitySmalls · Post #83 » by **GiggitySmalls** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 12:00 am

GoBobs wrote:Look, LaMelo got a lot of haters....

Every year when I evaluate players I ask one simple question. What did you do last year?

LaMelo is #2 in the League in made 3pt shots on for the 2025-2026 season. He just played 72 games and gave us 20/7/5 in 28 minutes.

Player A per 36: 25/10.5/6
Player B per 36: 26/9/6

Player A is Cade and Player B is LaMelo. Somehow Cade is a media darling and LaMelo is a guy who is a clown?

The numbers tell a different story.

Charles Lee is the clown for even thinking about benching LaMelo much less doing it. Get a real coach in here.

What are cades percentages and efficiency though...yeah argument over.

Sent from my SM-S936U using RealGM Forums mobile app

amcoolio · Post #84 » by **amcoolio** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 1:59 am

Cade led his team to 60 wins, LaMelo misses the playoffs, again. It's not even a comparison.

I don't give a flying **** what LaMelo's stats are, I want the playoffs.

Replace Cade and LaMelo this season, there is zero doubt the Hornets make the playoffs

Comeon ya'll stop being homers. I want LaMelo to succeed more than anyone. But the reality is, he just hasn't been a franchise player, and hes going into year 7. Franchise players win. Simple as that.

Post #85 » by **Diop** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 4:08 am

I believe the answer is in the middle of you guys argument. Lamelo is talented but did looked ill disciplined at times compared to someone like Cade.

Cade also had a lot more help with a pack of animals happy to go to war with him.

Lamelo has made improvements in his erratic play imo. The defense improved a ton as well.

He is way too talented to give up on and I would definitely expect improvement next year.

So unless a big trade for a star happens I expect Lamelo to stay as our leader.

luciano-davidwesley · Post #86 » by **luciano-davidwesley** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 4:12 am

Nice of him to show up in the third quarter when the game was well and truly over.

Post #87 » by **fatlever** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 4:15 am

Main issue, outside of the dodgy health, has always been that he is much better suited to be the Clear secondary scorer. I think we'll continue to get these uneven performances from him and see teams take us out of what we do as long as that continues to be the case. Either Miller or kon I need to take a pretty significant leap Or eventually the front office has two Make those moves to get a true number one to let ball do what he does best, create for others and stretch the defense.

Post #88 » by **Diop** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 4:19 am

Kons health definitely made things tougher for ball.

Balls efficiency numbers are pretty close to Kembas but Kemba was way more endearing

KingCat · Post #89 » by **KingCat** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 4:57 am

I completely understand the frustration with Lamelo, but to people that want him gone, what is the outcome you seek?

Like trading Melo for Garland? That will turn us into the new bulls pretty much. At this point ww have no choice buy to live and die by Melo and pray to God this humbling makes him grow up on and off the court.

Post #90 » by **JDR720** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 5:01 am

I don't think we should trade him because it would just look really bad, he is our most important player and he did improve this season.

But if we were going to trade him, his value now is probably as high as it'll get if we're still afraid of injury issues.

amcoolio · Post #91 » by **amcoolio** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 11:00 am

KingCat wrote:I completely understand the frustration with Lamelo, but to people that want him gone, what is the outcome you seek?

Like trading Melo for Garland? That will turn us into the new bulls pretty much. At this point ww have no choice buy to live and die by Melo and pray to God this humbling makes him grow up on and off the court.

I don’t want him gone, but hes a secondary player - Hornets need a true franchise player. Whether that’s Kon or Miller taking a leap, a huge trade, or getting lucky in the draft. KAT is the perfect analogy - he couldn’t get it done by himself, until a true franchise player came along (Edwards), and is now in NY as a second fiddle to Brunson.

JustBuzzin · Post #92 » by **JustBuzzin** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 11:14 am

How do people watch this team all season and question LaMelo lol

My goodness it's clear as day he's our best player. You can question his shot selection, but in reality he and Coby White are the only players on the roster who can get their shot off consistently. Then you add LaMelo is the only playmaker on the team.

We ask him to do a lot. You're not going to get a efficient LaMelo until you bring in a guy who can get their own offense and be that #1 option.

I'm afraid Miller and Kon aren't that kind of player.

If Giannis is on the table we have to consider it even if it means trading either Miller or Kon.

LaMelo is a #2 option forced to be the #1 option.

amcoolio · Post #93 » by **amcoolio** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 11:35 am

JustBuzzin wrote:How do people watch this team all season and question LaMelo lol

My goodness it's clear as day he's our best player. You can question his shot selection, but in reality he and Coby White are the only players on the roster who can get their shot off consistently. Then you add LaMelo is the only playmaker on the team.

We ask him to do a lot. You're not going to get a efficient LaMelo until you bring in a guy who can get their own offense and be that #1 option.

I'm afraid Miller and Kon aren't that kind of player.

If Giannis is on the table we have to consider it even if it means trading either Miller or Kon.

LaMelo is a #2 option forced to be the #1 option.

You just answered your own question with the rest of your post lol. We need a franchise player.

JustBuzzin · Post #94 » by **JustBuzzin** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 11:39 am

amcoolio wrote:
JustBuzzin wrote:How do people watch this team all season and question LaMelo lol

My goodness it's clear as day he's our best player. You can question his shot selection, but in reality he and Coby White are the only players on the roster who can get their shot off consistently. Then you add LaMelo is the only playmaker on the team.

We ask him to do a lot. You're not going to get a efficient LaMelo until you bring in a guy who can get their own offense and be that #1 option.

I'm afraid Miller and Kon aren't that kind of player.

If Giannis is on the table we have to consider it even if it means trading either Miller or Kon.

LaMelo is a #2 option forced to be the #1 option.

You just answered your own question with the rest of your post lol. We need a franchise player.

It's why im suggesting Giannis lol

LaMelo is fine if Giannis is on the team.

Courant · Post #95 » by **Courant** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 2:53 pm

JustBuzzin wrote:How do people watch this team all season and question LaMelo lol

My goodness it's clear as day he's our best player. You can question his shot selection, but in reality he and Coby White are the only players on the roster who can get their shot off consistently. Then you add LaMelo is the only playmaker on the team.

We ask him to do a lot. You're not going to get a efficient LaMelo until you bring in a guy who can get their own offense and be that #1 option.

I'm afraid Miller and Kon aren't that kind of player.

If Giannis is on the table we have to consider it even if it means trading either Miller or Kon.

LaMelo is a #2 option forced to be the #1 option.

In summation, you just explained the difference between Charlotte getting the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft (Brandon Miller) vs. the No. 1 pick (Victor Wembanyama), and how not getting that pick has changed the franchise's trajectory.

amcoolio · Post #96 » by **amcoolio** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 5:29 pm

Courant wrote:
JustBuzzin wrote:How do people watch this team all season and question LaMelo lol

My goodness it's clear as day he's our best player. You can question his shot selection, but in reality he and Coby White are the only players on the roster who can get their shot off consistently. Then you add LaMelo is the only playmaker on the team.

We ask him to do a lot. You're not going to get a efficient LaMelo until you bring in a guy who can get their own offense and be that #1 option.

I'm afraid Miller and Kon aren't that kind of player.

If Giannis is on the table we have to consider it even if it means trading either Miller or Kon.

LaMelo is a #2 option forced to be the #1 option.

In summation, you just explained the difference between Charlotte getting the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft (Brandon Miller) vs. the No. 1 pick (Victor Wembanyama), and how not getting that pick has changed the franchise's trajectory.

Yep, and this franchise will keep sucking until they get lucky like the Spurs and get that level of player, becuase they seemingly have no idea how to go the Indiana or OKC route, over 5 different GMs and 3 ownerships

The Bobcats/Hornets have the worst win percentage since coming into the league, and also haven't drafted #1. Sure, they have passed on franchise players - SGA, Jokic, Mitchell - but haven't had the opportunity to just take the sure thing like other franchises.

I ran tankathon 50 times, not once did the Hornets move up, so it ain't happening this year. But Peterson/Dybantsa are exactly what this team needs. With our cursed luck, They'll go to Washington and Miami, further putting us in the cellar

Courant · Post #97 » by **Courant** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 5:59 pm

amcoolio wrote:
Courant wrote:In summation, you just explained the difference between Charlotte getting the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft (Brandon Miller) vs. the No. 1 pick (Victor Wembanyama), and how not getting that pick has changed the franchise's trajectory.
Yep, and this franchise will keep sucking until they get lucky like the Spurs and get that level of player, becuase they seemingly have no idea how to go the Indiana or OKC route, over 5 different GMs and 3 ownerships

The Bobcats/Hornets have the worst win percentage since coming into the league, and also haven't drafted #1. Sure, they have passed on franchise players - SGA, Jokic, Mitchell - but haven't had the opportunity to just take the sure thing like other franchises.

Remove Brandon Miller and Victor Wembanyama from their respective teams, and I prefer Charlotte's talent to San Antonio's.

1.) Stephon Castle is flourishing in San Antonio because he's the second- to at times fourth-best player on the team. If he had to be the best player on a team coming into the NBA, I feel his transition would be much rougher. LaMelo Ball, on the other hand, has flashed All-NBA potential despite being asked to be a No. 1 option that, in my opinion, is not the best use of his skill set.

2,) I'll take Kon Knueppel over Devin Vassell. Vassell always struck me as an average starter to a solid sixth man on a playoff contender. Knueppel, on the other hand, looks like a player who could make a couple of All-Star Games.

3.) Miles Bridges > Keldon Johnson. To me, Miles is just a better version of Big Body.

4.) Also, De'Aaron Fox forced Sacramento to trade him to San Antonio so he could play with Wembanyama. Fox would not have gone to San Antonio had the Spurs drafted Miller.

A team with Wemby and comparatively worse parts is considered a title contender in a loaded Western Conference. If the Spurs had Miller with Castle, Vassell and Big Body, that team would struggle to get to 10th place in the West. Conversely, a team of Wemby + LaMelo + Knueppel + Miles would be one of the favorites to emerge from the Eastern Conference.

JustBuzzin · Post #98 » by **JustBuzzin** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 6:52 pm

How does the guy who was called a LaMelo hater be the main guy defending him?

The fact LaMelo was healthy all season and gave this team a legit chance to make the playoffs should be enough to lay off him.

LaMelo was not the problem. He's literally our best player. The problem is he doesn't have another sidekick who can create their own offense. When he goes to the bench who is the guy carrying the offense?

Miller still struggles to get his own offense. Kon also struggles to get his own.

This team needs another true shot creator. LaMelo is literally the only player who can consistently create offense.

amcoolio · Post #99 » by **amcoolio** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 7:44 pm

JustBuzzin wrote:How does the guy who was called a LaMelo hater be the main guy defending him?

The fact LaMelo was healthy all season and gave this team a legit chance to make the playoffs should be enough to lay off him.

LaMelo was not the problem. He's literally our best player. The problem is he doesn't have another sidekick who can create their own offense. When he goes to the bench who is the guy carrying the offense?

Miller still struggles to get his own offense. Kon also struggles to get his own.

This team needs another true shot creator. LaMelo is literally the only player who can consistently create offense.

Probably becuase LaMelo clearly is the #1 option on offense, and that hasn't been good enough to make the playoffs.

We were very healthy the last 50 games, still didn't make the playoffs.

We don't need a sidekick - we need a better #1 option. We struggled down the stretch against the good teams - Philly, Detroit, Boston, Miami, and Orlando - becuase LaMelo couldn't do it. We should have blown Miami out, but barely won. All we had to do was win that Philly game and we'd be the 7th instead of 9 seed - couldn't do it. Again, answer could be on the roster if they have monster offseasons. Miller and Kon can make huge leaps - we've seen it before with similarly athletic players. Or LaMelo can get his head on straight and take the offseason seriously - he has all the talent in the world to do so, but hasn't shown any interest yet.

EmpireFalls · Post #100 » by **EmpireFalls** » Sat Apr 18, 2026 7:47 pm

I think it’s much easier to find a Miller upgrade than a LaMelo one in this league. Replace his shooting with a more rugged slasher type who can play some defense.

If you want LaMelo gone, the question of who the primary initiator replacement would be, and how we would acquire that player, is nearly impossible.

Unless you want to get into the Ja business.