Ja Morant a possible trade target for Houston this offseason?

Very possible there will be a sea change in the way things function due to the new CBA, but I'll need to see it to believe it, I guess? Even in recent NBA history, we saw Jokic and Giannis both win their first rings in the latter halves of their 20s. Tatum was the youngest "first ring for the clear-cut best player on his team" guy in a long, long time, and even he was 25.

Our timeline is also helped somewhat by the fact that we locked up Sengun and Green on sub-max contracts.

I don't know, I guess I just feel like we're still approaching out window as contenders, in terms of the age/experience of our players. Even one more season and one additional playoff bounce for them would make me much more inclined to push our chips in for a non-ideal trade.

That said, I still think we should have beat San Antonio's offer for Fox. Ridiculous how low of a price they got for him. I suppose if Morant costs that much or less, sure.

 

All very good points. Enjoyed the debate. Bottom line, let's get JJJ not JA, lol

 

Where do you get poor fit from?

 

They need a guy that can get buckets or set up others for buckets at the end of games. Ja can do this.

 

They also need someone next to Amen that can shoot 3 pointers. Ja is not that. Ja can shoot (guns that is). Ja will not be a Houston Rocket. Amen, Jalen, and probably FVV (if he will take a pay cut) will be our major backcourt players next year. Dillon will either be traded or benched and we will make a few less than blockbuster trades to shore up our shooting. If we stand pat, Sengun will have to learn to shoot from the outside for the Rockets to improve.

 

I reached out to Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman to see if he would comment about the recent speculation around Ja. Here’s what he had to say: “I can’t blame other “executives” for fantasizing about us trading Ja. But it’s just that - fantasy. We are not trading Ja. Continue to underestimate Ja, this team and this city, and we will let our performance on the floor speak for itself. I’m not going to give this nonsense further oxygen and look forward to getting back to basketball.”

 

I think the Rockets need both shooting and playmaking. Ja solves one area about leaves a gaping hole in another. That said, my personal issues with him has nothing to do with his style. I just feel like if he's actually available in a trade, then that means his injury/off-court baggage is bigger than what's been made public.

 

Absolutely the most plausible explanation. There’s no other explanation that makes sense.

 

This is so obvious I can't understand why everyone doesn't feel this way.

 

And also unlike Jalen, Ja is always hurt and hardly ever plays

 

loved ja at the draft

wrote about him being a much better nba player than zion and should be the number 1 pick

have character questions now since his gun episodes

more worried about that than his health

although his health is his biggest on court issue with his slight frame

and i said that at the draft also

would not trade a lot of assets for him

 

*Howard Beck faints*

 

He can’t shoot. Currently, our 2 best players/prospects can’t shoot. You would be starting 3 guys who can’t shoot. If you had like dirk and ray allen around them you could make it work but we don’t. He also doesn’t defend. I know people are desperate for a “star”, and unlike fox, Ja actually is a star who could be a real difference maker but his fit is just brutal, and he’s usually injured.

 

Yeah I'm also a bit surprised people are harping more than the can't shoot part over the immaturity/injury issues. A healthy Ja who isn't pointing guns around is a player the Rockets would try to build around, not trying to fit in with other guys.

 

Smart thing for the Rockets to do is wait on Luka Doncic in 2026 because Luka has a Player Option.

The LeBron media is blaming Luka weight nonstop.

The Rockets need to be ready for Offering Luka Doncic a Max to be the Starting Point Guard with Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith, Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard.

 

^^^^
This

 

He's had some pretty crazy off the court issues as well.

Hopefully that's behind him.

 

Not true. The Heatles never paid some giant luxury tax bill; they took less to sign into cap space. That team never would have touched the second apron if it had existed at the time.

To the broader point -- the early age of entry (19 vs. 21-22), skill development curve, and long careers mean NBA championships aren't won with rookie contract players. The NFL comparison isn't apt.

There are really two windows in the NBA:

1. When your best players are on their cost controlled rookie extensions, age ~24-28.
2. When you have a transcendent superstar who provides surplus value even on a 35% of the cap veteran maximum. This is ~5 guys in the league.

 

Grizz are not trading Ja. Would much rather go after Book.

 

Have we already seen the best of Ja Morant? It’s a question you have to ask about these hyper-athletic injury prone types. The cliff can come real fast for them … See SF3, TMac, Rose, McDysee, Griffin …