Houston Rockets named as potential suitor for LaMelo Ball by major outlet

Give Bleacher Report credit.

They fuel a lot of our content here at SpaceCityScoop. They're always finding a way to incorporate the Houston Rockets into trade rumors.

At least they're keeping it fresh. Bleacher Report recently published an article naming one ambitious trade target for every team in the NBA. They had the Rockets targeting LaMelo Ball.

That's one we haven't heard before.

Could Houston Rockets trade for Ball?

Let's get this out of the way - we like Ball. A lot. His combination of positional size, shooting, and prodigious floor vision makes him a special player by any standard.

So far, his most successful season was likely his 2021-22 sophomore year. During that season, Ball averaged 20.1 points, 7.6 assists, and 6.7 rebounds per game. The Hornets' 114.1 Offensive Rating ranked ninth in the NBA. Piloting such a successful attack is an accomplishment for such a young player.

Yet, his next two seasons point to the central concern regarding Ball. He managed just 36 games in 2022-23, and 22 games in 2023-24. Ball is injury-prone.

What would the Rockets give up for him?

Hornets would expect haul from Houston Rockets

" Charlotte will push for more than No. 3, future picks and afterthought salary. Would Houston include any one of Thompson, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore or Tari Eason to sweeten the pot?"

- Dan Favale, Bleacher Report

That sounds like a lot. It's probably too much for a player with as many injury-related concerns as Ball.

We're also not sure about his fit alongside Sengun. Ball has typically thrived alongside lob-catching big men who protect the rim. It's quite possible that he and Sengun could develop impeccable offensive chemistry. Still, it's a risky gambit at this price point.

The idea that the Rockets could target Ball isn't preposterous - at least, on Houston's end. As the article acknowledges, the Hornets have no pressing reason to trade their star guard. Still, even if they did, the Rockets should probably avoid paying such a lofty price for a player with so much uncertainty around his durability.

Still, we thank Bleacher Report for giving us something to write about - again.