Taking stock of the next three goals: Clippers stud in the first round? Trail Blazers potential swap? Rockets use Lao Fan to balance?

. The stellar defense that sustained the Blazers late last season has yet to show up this season, but if you assume it can return, the Blazers have largely addressed their defensive issues. The offense is the long-term problem, and Ball could be their answer.

Houston Rockets

For Houston, the actual transaction cost is quite low. The Rockets could easily balance the salary with Fred VanVleet (provided he waives his trade veto), Dorian Finney-Smith and a smaller third contract. They have so many draft picks that it would be easy to send away a few first-round picks. The Rockets have the leverage to trade for just about anyone. That's exactly why they won't trade just anyone.

Are you willing to go all-in on LaMelo Ball right now, especially if the team looks to be a title contender and can save its chips for a more secure target in a few years? How easy will it be for Ball to fit into the existing system? He doesn't exactly fit into a defense-first culture unless he's expected to make a difference for a team (and coach) that demands defense. Fortunately, at least in theory, he's relatively low-maintenance as an offensive star. Acquiring him doesn't necessarily mean taking the ball away from Shin Kyung or Durant. In fact, taking the ball-carrying load off Amen Thompson might be beneficial.

At this stage, the Rockets are likely to have a negative attitude. The purpose of trading for Ball is to increase the team's shooting ability and organizational ability, and Reed Sheppard can already provide the team with these abilities to a certain extent. This upgrade may not be enough to justify its cost. But the Rockets are so asset-rich and so reliant on young players that whenever any star guard hits the market, it's inevitable that the Rockets will. If the price is low enough, this isn't crazy.