NBA insider shares painfully obvious take on Rockets' interest in LaMelo Ball

With the news that Lamelo Ball could be interested in a potential trade from the Charlotte Hornets, rumors have swirled around various teams, including the Houston Rockets, who could benefit from adding a dynamic point guard this season.

Yet, NBA Insider Jake Fischer, in the latest edition of his Insider Notebook, put some cold water on the building fire by, in essence, stating the obvious. Although the Rockets are likely to be monitoring the market for the right star to appear this season, Ball's lack of defensive viability makes him a poor fit for Houston.

"The most important piece to consider with any Rockets upgrade at point guard... [Ime Udoka] values defense, especially at the point of attack, and that is why the Rockets went out and targeted Fred VanVleet."

Jake Fischer

Ball has the size and the creativity to fit into the Rockets' offense, but there are too many other questions lingering

Don't get it wrong, Ball is one of the most dynamic scoring, shooting and creating point guards in the league when he is healthy. Last season, through 47 games, he averaged 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists while shooting 33.9% from beyond the arc.

Yet, his injury history, and the fact that he has only played in more than 60 games only once in his six-year NBA career, is likely to cause some trepidation surrounding his potential trade market.

In many ways, there might be a reckoning coming for this archetype of guard in the NBA. Because of their scoring and their centrality to a rebuilding franchise, players such as Ball, Trae Young and Ja Morant are awarded hefty extensions when their rookie contract expires.

Now, however, as their franchises are beginning to realize that these players might not be capable of being the cornerstone of a championship-contending team, they will have an exceedingly difficult time getting a proper return for them given how questionable their fit will be on any team who might show interest.

For Houston, particularly, the team has carefully cultivated a staunch and intense defensive identity since head coach Ime Udoka arrived, having posted a top-10 finish in defensive rating in each of the last two seasons.

This is why VanVleet, despite his limitations as a shorter guard, fit so well. He is a quick and capable point-of-attack defender who is able to get around screens and stick to his man, alleviating much of the pressure on the interior defenders in doing so.

If the Rockets are going to sell the farm for a point guard this season, it is going to need to be one who, even if he cannot do it at VanVleet's level, is a somewhat capable defender. That, without a doubt, is not Ball.