NBA Trade Rumors: Hornets PG LaMelo Ball to Rockets for Jalen Green, No. 4 Pick?

The Houston Rockets could be looking to make trades. Could they call up the Charlotte Hornets to inquire about LaMelo Ball?

Jeremy Brener | May 25, 2023

In this story:

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are looking for some kind of way to jolt the franchise in a new direction ... so too, are the Charlotte Hornets.

The Rockets and Hornets find themselves in the top-five of another draft, the third straight year for Houston and second time in the last four years for Charlotte.

Perhaps the youth movements leading the two teams need a change of scenery in order to get their careers back on track. Bleacher Report suggests the idea of the Rockets acquiring 2020's No. 3 overall pick LaMelo Ball.

"The Rockets could send Jalen Green or Jabari Smith Jr. and the No. 4 pick in this year's draft to the Charlotte Hornets in a package for Ball," Bleacher Report writes. "If Charlotte asks for more, Houston could give it the choice among any two of Green, Smith and Tari Eason."

Ball, who turns 22 in August, averaged 23.3 points per game this past season, but was limited to just 36 games due to injury. There's hope that Ball can return to his All-Star form when he's healthier. Even though Ball was an All-Star through two seasons, and Green failed to reach that high bar in his second year, there's hope that the No. 2 pick in 2021 can get to that level.

A trade like this wouldn't exactly solve either team's problems but it gives the Hornets another high pick to work with, while the Rockets get a slightly more established player in Ball.

But would Ball reverse the Rockets' fortunes? Probably not, making this deal unwise for Houston. Patience is needed with Green, but if the Rockets take their time, they could have the better player of the two.

You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.

Want the latest in news and insider information on the Houston Rockets? Click here

Follow Inside the Rockets on Facebook here

Follow Inside the Rockets on Twitter @InsideRocketsFN

Want even more Houston Rockets news? Check out the SI.com team page here

Check out the latest episodes of the Kiss of Death Podcast:

Published May 25, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.