NBA: 5 hypothetical trades that make sense in 2018-19
By Kyle Crabbe
Nicholas Batum to the Houston Rockets
Trade Details
Charlotte Hornets Receive: PG Brandon Knight, SF Carmelo Anthony, SG Eric Gordon, 2020 1st Round Pick
Houston Rockets Receive: SG/SF Nicolas Batum, SG Dwayne Bacon
The Houston Rockets have pulled the cord on the Carmelo Anthony experiment. It simply didn’t work in Houston. Contrary to popular notion, Carmelo Anthony is still an elite offensive option in the modern NBA. Anthony is a bonafide scorer and like the many great ones before him, Melo needs his shots (at least 15 a game) to be able to be the dominate or even be an effective player comparably to what he once was.
A great landing spot for Melo at this stage in his career might be in Charlotte with the Kemba Walker led Hornets. A big reason why this could be a home for Anthony is that Melo is part of Team Jordan Nike Brand and as a member of team Jordan, joining the Charlotte Hornets could make perfect sence since they are owned by none other than team Jordan Head, Michael Jordan.
Carmelo still can play basketball at a high enough level to be very valuable for a team like the Hornets. Melo in two games starting this season put up numbers of 16 points per game while averaging 32.5 minutes in those two games. Carmelo Anthony stats per 36 minutes this season also show how productive he still is at: 16.4 ppg and 6.6 rebounds. His veteran leadership and shot making ability could allow the Hornets to become a strong fringe Eastern Conference Playoff team. Carmelo could be a force joining Kemba Walker and would effectively replace Nicolas Batum in the Hornets starting lineup.
The Hornets in this particular deal would also add a lethal scorer in Eric Gordon to compliment what they already have in Tony Parker and Malik Monk as instant offense off the bench.
Houston in adding a player of the caliber of Nicolas Batum, would be effectively adding a better version of Trevor Ariza. Batum would instantly make the Rockets a legitimate title contender and a scary opponent for any team in the NBA in a playoff series.
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Batum’s great defensive skills would make the Rockets a better defensive team but he would also add another dangerous outside shooter and skilled playmaker to a already potent Mike D’Antoni Offense.
If this trade was to happen it could be just as major as the Jimmy Butler trade to the Philadelphia 76ers.