I preface by saying that I’m cool with Kelly Iko as a reporter. He feels like the generic team beat reporter and I am sure he is as connected as anyone to the front office, leaking both correct and incorrect information as front office dictate to him.
But I have to question his actual understanding of the NBA itself. And while I have been feeling this way for at least a year now when I started to seriously read Iko’s stuff, the following trade proposals really puts it into perspective.
https://theathletic.com/4550522/2023/05/25/rockets-nba-draft-pick-trade-2023/
One of the mock trades in the article was
>Rockets receive: Keldon Johnson
>Spurs receive: The No. 4 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and a 2025 first-round pick (top-3 protected)
Meanwhile in a recent podcast, Ringer’s prospect writer KOC basically proposed this trade
>Mavericks receive: Keldon Johnson, unspecificed future 1st round pick (didn’t say how many or which, but said at least needed a future pick to make the trade balanced)
>Spurs receive: 10th pick in the draft.
Even if you don’t like him nor like the Ringer, at least you have to admit he’s both more connected with the NBA wide execs, the value of draft picks, and just that what said makes more sense for anyone follows NBA drafts for more than a couple of years.
Anyway, end of my rant. Basically, follow Iko if you want just regular Rockets news. But don’t take his actual basketball analysis seriously.
![[ClutchFans] Jabari Smith Jr's true shooting percentage in the month of November is 66.4%. He has the lowest usage among #Rockets starters but now leads them in TS% (60.8%) on the season.](https://www.rawchili.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1701271563_998_Woh9b9opas3UsoUC7JA65mjkmu9GqcaNDZ7eWbpyZZA.jpg)
14 comments
I ignore any sports journalism he does, Only thing of value is his reports/leaks from FO
His podcast autoplayed on my spotify, quickly blacklisted it.
James Harden, Jalen Green, Keldon, Jabari, and Sengun is a nice lineup.
He making 20 mill this year, with a sliding cap number, and under team control for 4 years.
I would prefer not to trade pick 4 cuz I really like Amen, but if we can re do this deal and add pick 20 and a Nets pick I’m all in.
Just consider sports reporting hair saloon gossip and you don’t have a problem.
There’s something that just feels dirty about making a trade with the Spurs. Keldon is a solid player, and his age more or less aligns with our core, but I’m trying to imagine fit. He’s a decent rebounder, pretty good defender, average playmaker, and mostly a scoring option. I like his game, but I could easily foresee Tari as a better long term fit in our starting lineup. And if we do this trade we’re still missing a primary ball handler who can playmake. I don’t think he’s enough of an upgrade over our current options to justify giving up what it’d take to get him. If we’re going after a player in the trade market I’d rather spend our assets on a playmaking lead guard.
Oh Keldon Johnson. I was thinking who the hell is Kelvin Johnson.
Pop isn’t letting Keldon go for only a number 10 draft pick
He sandbagged last year for Wemby
He has been developing those guys for a couple of years now and is ready to place some experienced youth around Wemby
We would have to trade KPJ if we trade for Keldon. This is often left off in the discussion. Keldon/KPJ/Green are all the same type of player. We can’t have that on the team.
Keldon isn’t a good shooter either. He has a below average TS%. He’s not worth anything close to the 4th overall pick given how inefficient he is.
Just take Amen or Miller and grow the young talent. Ain’t no trades happening. Also Kelly Iko is an idiot with horrible mock trades.
Kelly Iko proposes outlandish trades to generate clicks
keldon johnsons gonna make our offensive rtg go up 5 and our defensive rtg go up 30
Kelly is a good reporter, but he is god awful in coming up with any sort of trade scenarios
why in fucks name would the spurs give away keldon johnson and a pick for the 10th pick in this draft??? i agree that Iko trade article was bad but his proposal is better here
I’ve had Keldon on my fantasy team two years running. We don’t want or need another inefficient chucker lol
Spurs guy coming in peace. Love the guy but Keldon is not worth the 4th pick in this draft.