Should the Toronto Raptors trade for Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball this offseason?
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has been named an offseason trade target for the Toronto Raptors.
NBA analyst Dan Favale of Bleacher Report believes the Raptors should pursue a trade for Ball this summer if the Hornets are open to moving the All-Star.
"LaMelo Ball is the perfect fit but tumbles down the rankings following the Charlotte Hornets' post-Thanksgiving renaissance," Favale wrote. "The price for his services has likely graduated to ridiculous, if he's available at all. Toronto should investigate anyway."
The Raptors lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of this year's playoffs in seven games. They need a point guard to make things easier for Scottie Barnes, which is why Favale thinks Toronto should pursue a Ball trade with Charlotte.
Ball played in 72 games for the Hornets this season. He averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game while shooting 40.7% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 89.9% from the free-throw line.
A one-time All-Star, Ball has two years remaining on his contract and is eligible to extend for three years, $119.9 million after the NBA Finals, per Bobby Marks of ESPN.
The Hornets signed Ball to a five-year, $203 million extension in 2023. Ball will make $40,770,520 next season, $43,582,280 in 2027-28 and $46,394,040 in 2028-29.
Ball finished the 2025-26 season seventh in the NBA in total assists and ninth in assists per game. Former NBA executive and current analyst for The Athletic, John Hollinger, believes Ball should be considered "a candidate for Third-Team All-NBA."
Ball led the NBA in offensive rating since the All-Star break.
"I haven't heard him get a lot of shine for end-of-season honors, but Ball has played enough games to be eligible (!) and should be a candidate for Third-Team All-NBA," Hollinger wrote.
Ball has career averages of 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game with the Hornets. Those are great numbers, but the guard has yet to make the playoffs.
It will be intriguing to see if the Hornets make Ball available in trade talks this summer. LaMelo doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract.
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