Report: LaMelo Wants Out

[SHAQATTACK]

Like all the ball boys . 

Too Fragile ??..

Must be Italian

[Celtics4ever]

What does defense have to do with being a PG?

It slows down the other teams ball movement, disrupts their flow.   Ideally, you don't want to have guys on defense with scheming.

He is definitely the best player out of the Ball family but does that say much.

[Goldstar88]

Who the heck is LaMelo to want out!?

He has only played in 60% of their games this season. He has only played in 105 games in the past 3 seasons combined. His inability to stay on the court is the biggest reason for how bad they are. His unwillingness to play fundamental team ball is the 2nd biggest reason for their struggles. Sort your own backyard first. Then complain about what the team is or isn't doing.

The Hornets are significantly better when Ball plays then when he doesn't. So his health is a major concern, but his ability doesn't seem to hold them back at all, it is in fact the opposite.  They need him to play simply because they are much better when he does.  Though much better just takes them from awful to bad.  They've done a pretty bad job putting talent around Ball.  The hope was Miller, but he is more injury prone than Ball. Knueppel looks solid, but he is also another 6'7" guy (Ball and Bridges both 6'7" and Miller is 6'9" but plays smaller).  No true PG on the roster.  Poor to mediocre at best big men for years.  The Hornets are just poorly managed.  I'd want out also.

How is Lamelo not a true PG? He runs their offense and averages 10ast per game.

So does Luka.  So does Jokic.  Heck Lebron once led the league in apg.  None of those guys are true PG's either and neither is LaMelo.  He doesn't have the ball handling skills and he will never be able to defend the position because he isn't quick enough.  He is an excellent passer, but a true PG he is not.

Lamelo has played PG at every level. High school, overseas and in the NBA. He has very good ball handling skills. What does defense have to do with being a PG?

Defense is literally 50% of the game. It is just as important as offense. It is subjective and hard to compare decent and reliable numbers, but Is just as important as offense.

Who said defense wasn?t important? What does Lamelo playing PG and running the offense have to do with his defense. Just because he?s an average defender doesn?t mean he can?t play point guard.

[Vermont Green]

Didn't Ball come out and say he loves it in CHA and is not looking for a trade?

In any case, I don't think it matters whether he fits your definition of a PG or not.  In my mind, he is a PG in the same way that Gilgeous-Alexander is a PG, Or Haliburton.  Or even Derrick White.  Any of them would have difficulty defending small quick guards.  And now many traditional PGs are there these days.  Most teams' primary ball handlers are combo guards.  And that is what I see Ball as.

Being called a combo guard used to be a negative thing, but I don't think it is these days.

[Celtics4ever]

Didn't Ball come out and say he loves it in CHA and is not looking for a trade?

In any case, I don't think it matters whether he fits your definition of a PG or not.  In my mind, he is a PG in the same way that Gilgeous-Alexander is a PG, Or Haliburton.  Or even Derrick White.  Any of them would have difficulty defending small quick guards.  And now many traditional PGs are there these days.  Most teams' primary ball handlers are combo guards.  And that is what I see Ball as.

Being called a combo guard used to be a negative thing, but I don't think it is these days.

Most PGs are scorers, that is true.

[Ilikesports17]

Didn't Ball come out and say he loves it in CHA and is not looking for a trade?

In any case, I don't think it matters whether he fits your definition of a PG or not.  In my mind, he is a PG in the same way that Gilgeous-Alexander is a PG, Or Haliburton.  Or even Derrick White.  Any of them would have difficulty defending small quick guards.  And now many traditional PGs are there these days.  Most teams' primary ball handlers are combo guards.  And that is what I see Ball as.

Being called a combo guard used to be a negative thing, but I don't think it is these days.

Ball did say this. But its very rare for players to admit that theyve asked for a trade publicly.

[Vermont Green]

Didn't Ball come out and say he loves it in CHA and is not looking for a trade?

In any case, I don't think it matters whether he fits your definition of a PG or not.  In my mind, he is a PG in the same way that Gilgeous-Alexander is a PG, Or Haliburton.  Or even Derrick White.  Any of them would have difficulty defending small quick guards.  And now many traditional PGs are there these days.  Most teams' primary ball handlers are combo guards.  And that is what I see Ball as.

Being called a combo guard used to be a negative thing, but I don't think it is these days.

Ball did say this. But its very rare for players to admit that they've asked for a trade publicly.

I agree, and whether or not he wants to be traded may not matter.  But he could have not said anything regarding the rumors.  He chose to make a point to refute the rumor.

In the end, whether he wants a trade or not is no more important than whether he is a PG or a combo guard or a SG.  No reason to not speculate about possible trades.  That is what his forum is for.  We make up trades that never happen, and then debate them.

[Phantom255x]

LaMelo has missed 7 games in November and even in the 6 games he's played this month including tonight, in that span he's shot a whopping 30-88 (34%) from the field, including 3-11 tonight as his team is getting wrecked.

The Kings are the kind of team that'd trade for him because they're the directionless Kings but otherwise I really don't see who'd be interested, he's not exactly a winning player either and I don't think it's just the Hornets. He's not showing signs of improving his defense or other parts of his game.

[Who]

LaMelo has missed 7 games in November and even in the 6 games he's played this month including tonight, in that span he's shot a whopping 30-88 (34%) from the field, including 3-11 tonight as his team is getting wrecked.

The Kings are the kind of team that'd trade for him because they're the directionless Kings but otherwise I really don't see who'd be interested, he's not exactly a winning player either and I don't think it's just the Hornets. He's not showing signs of improving his defense or other parts of his game.

Funny highlight from that game. LaMelo dribbling down right wing, tries a bullet pass to a cutter off the bounce, gets it all wrong and hits Jalen Brunson (LaMelo's own defender) in the face (forehead) with the ball / pass.

Brunson did well to shake it off. That must have hurt. LaMelo had some pace on that bullet pass.

[aefgogreen]

Simons, Hauser, 2 firsts, and 2 swaps

gross overpay

To be fair, the swaps probably wouldn't convert into high picks for Charlotte.

[slamtheking]

Simons, Hauser, 2 firsts, and 2 swaps

gross overpay

To be fair, the swaps probably wouldn't convert into high picks for Charlotte.

probably not but even without them, still wouldn't give up 2 firsts for Ball.  The thing with the swaps is also that they'd be out in the future and no one knows how these teams will be at that point.  Charlotte may be on the upswing and the C's on the downswing. 

Example, I was against adding the swap in the trade for White for that very reason.  looking at how SA is doing and expects to improve next year and with the C's uncertainty with Tatum, we could very well be losing draft position in that draft to SA.

[Neurotic Guy]

Simons, Hauser, 2 firsts, and 2 swaps

gross overpay

To be fair, the swaps probably wouldn't convert into high picks for Charlotte.

probably not but even without them, still wouldn't give up 2 firsts for Ball.  The thing with the swaps is also that they'd be out in the future and no one knows how these teams will be at that point.  Charlotte may be on the upswing and the C's on the downswing. 

Example, I was against adding the swap in the trade for White for that very reason.  looking at how SA is doing and expects to improve next year and with the C's uncertainty with Tatum, we could very well be losing draft position in that draft to SA.

That's the '28 draft and I'd love to dump that pick - it's a bit of a stressor thinking about things falling apart in 27-28 and then swapping that pick with a 60-win SA.  Of course that's a pessimist's view, but it's possible. 

[hwangjini_1]

Simons, Hauser, 2 firsts, and 2 swaps

gross overpay

To be fair, the swaps probably wouldn't convert into high picks for Charlotte.

probably not but even without them, still wouldn't give up 2 firsts for Ball.  The thing with the swaps is also that they'd be out in the future and no one knows how these teams will be at that point.  Charlotte may be on the upswing and the C's on the downswing. 

Example, I was against adding the swap in the trade for White for that very reason.  looking at how SA is doing and expects to improve next year and with the C's uncertainty with Tatum, we could very well be losing draft position in that draft to SA.

That's the '28 draft and I'd love to dump that pick - it's a bit of a stressor thinking about things falling apart in 27-28 and then swapping that pick with a 60-win SA.  Of course that's a pessimist's view, but it's possible.

perhaps. but the celtics would still have the nba championship trophy they won with white on the team.

[Moranis]

LaMelo is absolutely worth 2 1st round picks.  Even with his health.  Heck, his health is the only reason he might be available at a price like that.  If LaMelo was healthier he'd be a 4 1st round pick, plus young player, plus solid veteran type player.  The health is obviously a huge risk, but his talent is immense.  I think you take the flyer on the health and trade the draft picks.  That is a solid use of Simons, Hauser, and the 1st rounders.  Significant talent upgrade and the teyp of trade that can extend the Boston window with Tatum and Brown.  Just need a decent center and the team would be set with White, Ball, Brown, Tatum, ? with Pritchard, Walsh, Minot, Queta. Solid 8, just need that center. 

[Neurotic Guy]

Simons, Hauser, 2 firsts, and 2 swaps

gross overpay

To be fair, the swaps probably wouldn't convert into high picks for Charlotte.

probably not but even without them, still wouldn't give up 2 firsts for Ball.  The thing with the swaps is also that they'd be out in the future and no one knows how these teams will be at that point.  Charlotte may be on the upswing and the C's on the downswing. 

Example, I was against adding the swap in the trade for White for that very reason.  looking at how SA is doing and expects to improve next year and with the C's uncertainty with Tatum, we could very well be losing draft position in that draft to SA.

That's the '28 draft and I'd love to dump that pick - it's a bit of a stressor thinking about things falling apart in 27-28 and then swapping that pick with a 60-win SA.  Of course that's a pessimist's view, but it's possible.

perhaps. but the celtics would still have the nba championship trophy they won with white on the team.

Yes, not saying it wasn?t worth it.