Report: LaMelo Wants Out

[Moranis]

Simons, Hauser, 2 firsts, and 2 swaps

gross overpay

It is not.  If Boston could do that trade they should.  No question at all.  Ball would be great next to Tatum and Brown.  He'd fit well with White as well.  That is the sort of trade that could bring Boston back to contention in 26.

I don't disagree that Ball has the talent to make a big improvement to Boston but the key problem is he's rarely able to play.  I'm not shipping out that kind of package for a player who'll miss most of the games.   If it was a certainty he'd be healthy for years, I'd trade Simons and Hauser for him and maybe a pick and a swap.  no way I'd cough up the loss of 4 first rounders for any player that's not an MVP candidate -- and yes, swaps are the loss of control of a first rounder.

swaps are not losses of 1st rounders

[Who]

I see some Hornets fans talking about keeping LaMelo and hoping to land one of those top 3 picks this summer. Look at the roster they would have then:

G: LaMelo
G: Knueppel
F: B Miller
F: Cam Boozer / AJ Dybantsa
C: Kalkbrenner

or

G: LaMelo
G: Darryn Peterson
F: Knueppel
F: B Miller
C: Kalkbrenner

[slamtheking]

Simons, Hauser, 2 firsts, and 2 swaps

gross overpay

It is not.  If Boston could do that trade they should.  No question at all.  Ball would be great next to Tatum and Brown.  He'd fit well with White as well.  That is the sort of trade that could bring Boston back to contention in 26.

I don't disagree that Ball has the talent to make a big improvement to Boston but the key problem is he's rarely able to play.  I'm not shipping out that kind of package for a player who'll miss most of the games.   If it was a certainty he'd be healthy for years, I'd trade Simons and Hauser for him and maybe a pick and a swap.  no way I'd cough up the loss of 4 first rounders for any player that's not an MVP candidate -- and yes, swaps are the loss of control of a first rounder.

swaps are not losses of 1st rounders

technically you still have the pick but you lose control of it.  if the trade works out better for the other team, they take your pick which is hurting the team's ability to get a better player in the draft.  Very possible that situation comes back to bite us from the White trade with SA.

[slamtheking]

I see some Hornets fans talking about keeping LaMelo and hoping to land one of those top 3 picks this summer. Look at the roster they would have then:

G: LaMelo
G: Knueppel
F: B Miller
F: Cam Boozer / AJ Dybantsa
C: Kalkbrenner

or

G: LaMelo
G: Darryn Peterson
F: Knueppel
F: B Miller
C: Kalkbrenner

the supposition is that Ball and Miller can actually get on the court.  Charlotte may seriously want to look into moving on from their injury-plagued players and start rebuilding (again) with players that can stay on the court. 

[Donoghus]

I don't like this kid's attitude at all.  Nevermind the injury concerns on top of it.

Keep him the hell away from the Celtics.

[Csfan1984]

I like Zion and Melo trade idea. Of course picks need to be added but maybe it can work for both teams

[Celtics4ever]

I hope we do not make a move for him.   He is a very poor shooter, can't shoot from the field of the three.  He is shooting 29.8% from the three this year.   This is down from his career average of 36.2%  His field percentage is bad too at 38.5% this year against a career average of  42.0% .  He has some shooting touch as he is shooting 86.7% from the line.   He is not a good defender with at current defensive rating is approximately
118.1.

I would not pursue him as a player or trade Simons for him.  Simons is a better shooter.  Both are 118 def rating guys.