Houston Rockets named potential suitors for LaMelo Ball by major media outlet

Give credit to the Bleacher Report.

They power much of our content here at SpaceCityScoop. They always find a way to include the Houston Rockets in trade rumors.

At least they keep it fresh. Bleacher Report recently published an article naming a lofty business goal for every NBA team. The Rockets were targeting LaMelo Ball.

This is something we’ve never heard before.

Let’s get this out of the way – we love Ball. A lot. His combination of positional size, shooting and prodigious floor vision makes him a special player in every way.

His most successful season so far has probably been his sophomore year 2021-22. During this season, Ball averaged 20.1 points, 7.6 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game. The Hornets’ offensive rating of 114.1 ranks ninth in the NBA. Piloting such a successful offense is an accomplishment for such a young player.

Yet his next two seasons highlight the central concern regarding Ball. He only managed 36 games in 2022-23 and 22 games in 2023-24. The ball is prone to injury.

What would the Rockets give up for him?

“Charlotte will be pushing for more than No. 3, future picks and salary after the fact. Would Houston include one of Thompson, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore or Tari Eason to sweeten the pot?”

– Dan Favale, report on money launderers

That seems like a lot. That’s probably too much for a player with as many injury issues as Ball.

We’re also not sure where he fits alongside Sengun. The ball generally thrived alongside big men catching the lob and protecting the rim. It’s quite possible that he and Sengun develop impeccable offensive chemistry. Still, it’s a risky bet at this price level.

The idea that the Rockets could target Ball isn’t absurd — at least on Houston’s side. As the article acknowledges, the Hornets have no compelling reason to trade their star guard. Still, even if they did, the Rockets should probably avoid paying such a high price for a player with so much uncertainty about his durability.

Nonetheless, we thank Bleacher Report for giving us something to write about – again.