Ja Morant a possible trade target for Houston this offseason?

I meant it in terms of the adding more extension possibilities. No one today would forego that amount of money to go into FA like the Heatles. They all just sign the supermax and ask for trades if things don't work out, like Harden and Lillard.

 

Don't forget a well timed "our aging arena" plea(now entering 25 years old) and you have a similar play to what brought the Sonics to OKC.

 

Josh Christopher says that Jalen is an underrated penetrator also, so there’s that. Pros and cons…

 

I get this risks involved with Morant - but oh my god what I wouldn't do to see a small ball lineup of Morant, Green, Whitmore, Thompson and Eason. Most athletic five man lineup in NBA history?

 

No no no

 

He's definitely lost something to injuries already.

 

Yeah he's slowed down. Depends on what he costs. If it's Jalen, Cam and a pick I say yes

 

Please keep trumpeting this loud + often.

 

Ja Morant

 

The more I think about it the more Zion makes sense as Rockets priority offseason target. Zion is historically efficient on offense + elite iso scorer who excels getting to + finishing at rim even thru contact as well as getting to FT line. Zion is also elite in all the areas that Ime system requires for success: OREB, transition efficiency + frequency, weakside rim protection, FTA and defense to offense. And Zion at 26 perfectly fits Rockets timeline moreso than Booker at 29 (if even available next season). Zion is also elite at generating half court offense, a huge Rockets weakness.

Zion is more efficient offensively than Booker (career TS% is 62 vs 58) and Zion is clearly better defensively (compare DBPM, DW/S, DRTG or stocks) + REB. Freak talent like Zion only potentially available due to greatest area of concern, availability. But Steph, Embiid, AD, etc. had similar injury concerns early in their careers which they have for most part overcome and/our found great success in spite of concerns.

And I'd be wary of acquiring any supermax players right now if possible.

 

These needs could be filled by 2 different players instead of a single player.

 

Have the Grizz gotten to the point where they're winning despite Ja moreso than because of him? He honestly hasn't been all that good this season. Career lows in FG% and rebounding. His 3P% is just 28.4%, second-lowest of his career after last season. Points per game down under 21. Still averaging 7.4 assists, but his turnovers are at a career high of 3.9--he's not even clearing 2:1 AST:TO. Also a career high in fouls per game, which may indicate he's lost a step defensively and is fouling more to compensate.

I get the whole @J.R. message of "CF is too picky" but I mean, even ignoring fit, the guy still has to actually be an upgrade over guys we already have.

 

Hell no on Morant.

DD

 

I have a feeling all those hard falls might have actually put him in Dwayne Wade territory of body breaking down early. Hope not, one of my favorite players to watch.

 

Morant hasn't been the same since the injury...damaged goods..aside from the off court issues.