Should HOU continue as is or add a star? (HOU/CHA)

[Shock Defeat]

You may not have to worry at all about the Hornets even considering trading LaMelo Ball for anyone on your roster, including Amen.

That would be a mistake because that means hornets are overrating LaMelo. He is a good player, but he plays no defense and there is nobody on that team that can score. It's really easy to pad stats on a squad that is losing every game where you are the only guy that teams fear. Defenses will just key in on the other guys and let Lamelo get his, which has been a winning strategy.

Hornets just locked up LaMelo at a bargain price for a top-3 scorer in the NBA.

There is just no way in hell Hornets are listening on LaMelo.

This is a fantasy coming from your fanbase.

It's totally unrealistic.

Yeah he's only top 3 score due to volume and not because he actually is a top 3 scorer. He also plays no defense and is on a bad team. It's impressive but context matters. If he were doing this on a winning team your statements would make sense. I'm not saying Hornets should accept a low ball offer, or even neutral value. I am saying if Houston offered Sengun and Amen for LaMelo, it would be high way robbery for Charlotte, and Houston would never offer that. Charlotte would be idiots to turn that down.

[MasterIchiro]

That would be a mistake because that means hornets are overrating LaMelo. He is a good player, but he plays no defense and there is nobody on that team that can score. It's really easy to pad stats on a squad that is losing every game where you are the only guy that teams fear. Defenses will just key in on the other guys and let Lamelo get his, which has been a winning strategy.

Hornets just locked up LaMelo at a bargain price for a top-3 scorer in the NBA.

There is just no way in hell Hornets are listening on LaMelo.

This is a fantasy coming from your fanbase.

It's totally unrealistic.

Yeah he's only top 3 score due to volume and not because he actually is a top 3 scorer. He also plays no defense and is on a bad team. It's impressive but context matters. If he were doing this on a winning team your statements would make sense. I'm not saying Hornets should accept a low ball offer, or even neutral value. I am saying if Houston offered Sengun and Amen for LaMelo, it would be high way robbery for Charlotte, and Houston would never offer that. Charlotte would be idiots to turn that down.

On and on and on you go.

Hornets would rather have LaMelo running offense than Sengün. And Amen is fine but he's never going to rank top 3 in scoring, even if you give him 40 shot attempts per game.

Hornets are not listening on LaMelo Ball.

We are sitting on 6 first round picks we can use for building the roster around LaMelo Ball & Brandon Miller.

We aren't even listening on Miller, and he's our second piece, not our bedrock.

You may feel you need a star, but you're not getting the bedrock piece of any team, I don't care how **** you think the player or team is.

[Diop]

Read on Twitter

[JMAC3]

I may not trade Amen Thompson straight up for LaMelo Ball, much less added with this package. Take him out and I might consider it for HOU.

You may not have to worry at all about the Hornets even considering trading LaMelo Ball for anyone on your roster, including Amen.

That would be a mistake because that means hornets are overrating LaMelo. He is a good player, but he plays no defense and there is nobody on that team that can score. It's really easy to pad stats on a squad that is losing every game where you are the only guy that teams fear. Defenses will just key in on the other guys and let Lamelo get his, which has been a winning strategy.

You are allowed to like Amen Thompson as a player and not want to move him, but it is pretty obvious to most that LaMelo is a clear better player at this point. Amen Thompson is very intriguing; I am a fan but he is a super star role player right now. I wouldn't feel very strong that he ever is an all-star based on what we have seen thus far, it could happen but if you put LaMelo on the Rockets team he is an all-star lock.

[Frankie]

Melo on the Rockets is an interesting idea. I remember posting on twitter a couple of years ago that a playmaker and scorer like Melo would be eye wateringly awesome to watch in Houston. He has since gone up a level in his offensive play, so credit to him.

This is not a realistic trade though. Rockets would have to offer substantially more than what he's worth to get the Hornets to even consider answering the phone, and at that point, it wouldn't be worth pursuing for the Rockets. Foundational key pieces at other teams do not get traded unless there is trouble in paradise. Melo has no reason to want out at this stage, the team is built around him and he's having an all-star level season, and the Hornets have no reason to entertain this either, they're building a good young team around him.

Nice idea, but this would be an easy no from both sides.

[daoneandonly]

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I think a "defensive" list with Westbrook and Josh Green at 1 and 2 is very much suspect

[Texas Chuck]

Not to mention Trent and Mitchell and Klay right behind them....

[LarsV8]

"preventing shots"

What the heck is that? Lol

[K_chile22]

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I think a "defensive" list with Westbrook and Josh Green at 1 and 2 is very much suspect

Shot attempts per minute while guarding the ball per tracking data is maybe the most egregious use of tracking data to try and say someone is a good defender I have ever seen, and they're usually all bad

[tsarcast]

if houston wanted to add a star they probably would not contact one of the few teams in the league that don't have one lmao

[MoreyWins]

Melo on the Rockets is an interesting idea.

This sentence gave me Vietnam flashbacks

[daoneandonly]

Not to mention Trent and Mitchell and Klay right behind them....

Didnt even notice Klay on there Wow

[Diop]

Read on Twitter

I think a "defensive" list with Westbrook and Josh Green at 1 and 2 is very much suspect

Shot attempts per minute while guarding the ball per tracking data is maybe the most egregious use of tracking data to try and say someone is a good defender I have ever seen, and they're usually all bad

i actually agree. it amused me though

[namlede]

To Hou: De’Aaron Fox

To Sac: Jalen Green + Jabari Smith + Reed or Amen+ a few picks

[GoBobs]

Even if I was interested in trading LaMelo (which I have no interest in), I am pretty sure there would be a lot better offers than this. Why would I trade in a dime for some pennies?

[Daddy 801]

Don’t watch enough Houston games to really know for sure. But bringing in LaVine while his value seems low could be a good idea. From what I have seen, read, or heard on podcasts Houston’s defense is elite but they need offense. LaVine might be the answer of players who seem available.

[MoreyWins]

Don’t watch enough Houston games to really know for sure. But bringing in LaVine while his value seems low could be a good idea. From what I have seen, read, or heard on podcasts Houston’s defense is elite but they need offense. LaVine might be the answer of players who seem available.

The Rockets have one shot at making a massive deal for a primary offensive option while keeping the defensive depth the have, and they need to do their due diligence before committing to Lavine. That means waiting to see how the market shakes up and if player agents are testing the waters. Lavine along with Trae are last resort options that have a high chance of being available after major moves are made next summer.

[Saints14]

Put it this way: I am not somebody who thinks LaMelo is a chucker or can’t elevate a great team vs floor raise a bad team, but I think there is a lot of risk that he can’t and that it wouldn’t be a risk worth taking for Houston to potentially disrupt their team-first style of play. He’s a guy I would want to build around but not plop in an already good ecosystem