Very interesting article on ESPN: INTEL - Five NBA stars were watching. Most of these focus on perception around the league, including trades.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46874485/nba-intel-trade-talks-next-ja-morant-zion-williamson-trae-young-lamelo-ballHere is the main comment on Melo:
Bontemps: Entering this season, the Hornets had one main goal: See what their team looks like, for an extended period, with a core of Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, the No. 4 pick in June's NBA draft. But two weeks into the season, Miller is out for an indefinite period with a shoulder injury -- after missing most of last year with a wrist injury -- and Ball has missed a couple games with an ankle injury. While Knueppel has impressed, the combination of Miller and Ball being hurt and the No. 6 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, forward Tidjane Salaun, remaining a work in progress, has put a damper on Charlotte's ability to move this franchise in a positive direction.
All of it, though, begins with Ball, an extraordinary talent who has people around the league questioning whether the sum will ever equal the many intriguing parts: a 6-7 frame, deep shooting range and incredible playmaking vision and open floor ability.
"He still doesn't know who he is," a Western Conference scout said. "But I think you can justify buying into the talent."
That is why trying to come up with a proper gauge of Ball's trade value is nearly impossible. He has played in just 58.1% of Charlotte's games since being drafted No. 3 in 2020, and outside of one blowout loss in a play-in game, the Hornets haven't sniffed the playoffs.
"Yes, he's talented, but he doesn't take basketball seriously enough," another West scout said. "It's hard to build a winner with him because of how he plays, and the liberties he takes for himself when he plays.
"Would someone take a flier on him? For sure. But Charlotte isn't taking a flier price for him."
Then this comment included under the Windhorst compliments relative to our rookies, this relative to Melo:
As for Ball...
"If you're asking me if Trae, Ja and LaMelo all came onto the trade market tomorrow, I think LaMelo would have the best market," one executive said. "But that's all hypothetical right now."
I continue to wait...and hope...for the return to Hornet's glory.
