After five seasons in the NBA, it's starting to become increasingly difficult to see the relationship between LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets go past the 2025 season.
To trade or not to trade? That is the question.
LaMelo Ball is one of the most dynamic and skilled players in the NBA, yet there is an overwhelming risk of rostering him – especially a team that has aspirations of unshackling themselves from the basement of the league.
The rumors regarding Ball’s status with the Charlotte Hornets have run rampant over the past few weeks.
Yet, given the landscape and the direction that the Hornets want to go, it makes a lot of sense to wonder what the franchise would look like without him.
At one point it was reported by Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports that Ball was growing frustrated with the franchise, but he then quickly shut that down.
Here’s the problem with Ball.
It’s hard to find someone of his skillset, his caliber, and his natural god-given ability. Players like him are once in a lifetime.
However, at the same time, with all the talent you have, comes great responsibility.
Just a week ago, NBA Insider and analyst Jake Fischer reported that someone he regarded as a “prominent cap person in the NBA,” told him that Ball was “the most unserious player in the NBA.”
That’s an awfully damning statement, but is it far from the truth?
One fan on X suggested that Ball doesn’t care about winning, and that all he wants to do is be rich and famous.
Another fan responded to a report from Michael Scotto that the Hornets want to build their team around teammate and rookie Kon Knueppel.
“Not with Ball. Gotta move him. Addition by subtraction. He’s flashy and can do crazy things but it doesn’t translate to winning basketball and making others better.”
If this is the vibe that he’s giving off toward the majority of fans, just imagine how the front office must feel.
The Hornets only had to see 26 games worth of Knueppel’s play to fully immerse themselves in him as the face of the franchise. All after investing five previous seasons with Ball and a lucrative $200 million contract.
It’s a fair assessment. Ball is currently on his sixth season in the NBA, and out of 420 possible games played, Ball has missed 175 games, or 42%. He’s battled through nagging injuries, mainly on his ankle and wrist, and because of that, has only played more than 50 games twice (with one of those playing in 51 games).
Currently, Charlotte is saying all the right things about Ball, but don’t be surprised if General Manager Jeff Peterson is at least asking around the league to see what his value could possibly be.
This is a guard-heavy roster, and there’s a chance that Charlotte finishes near the bottom of the standings again.
It may not be what Hornets fans want to hear, but if they can wait it out another year picking in the lottery, this could all be worth it.
The 2026 NBA Draft Class has the potential to be one of the strongest ever, and after striking gold in 2025, it doesn’t hurt to add more high-end players with superstar potential.
Do that, and move on from Ball’s contract that is just taking up space at this point, and now the Hornets can start on a clean slate.
A sustainable one at that.