The Charlotte Hornets have been predicted not to trade LaMelo Ball.
Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball has been in loud trade rumors this season for the first in his NBA career.
Ball has been linked to the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers in trade rumors, but NBA analyst Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report thinks the Hornets will keep LaMelo.
"Despite being well below .500 on the season, the Charlotte Hornets are outscoring opponents when Kon Knueppel and Ball are both on the floor," Bailey wrote. "And it's easy to see why the duo works so well (especially when Miller is around too).
"For all the issues that can come with Ball's defense and shot selection, he's still one of the most creative and talented offensive creators in the league. He's 6'7", and he's incredibly productive. He commands a ton of attention in the middle of the floor. And if you flank him with one of the best shooters in the league (it's already safe to call Knueppel that), his exploits become even more dangerous.
"At the same time, Ball's ingenuity as a distributor obviously helps Knueppel too. There aren't many point guards in the league better equipped to take full advantage of Knueppel's off-ball movement and catch-and-shoot trigger. And the Hornets will give both a little more time to cultivate their chemistry."
Ball has appeared in 25 games for the Hornets this season. He's averaging 19.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game while shooting 40.9% from the field, 36.5% from beyond the arc and 86.9% from the free-throw line.
Ball is making $37.9 million this season. He doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract. The talented playmaker signed a five-year, $203 million extension with the Hornets in 2023.
Many people around the NBA believe the Hornets should trade Ball and build the franchise around Knueppel and Miller, but Bailey thinks Charlotte should keep Ball since he's a good fit for Knueppel.
The Hornets selected Ball with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. The franchise hasn't made the playoffs with Ball and has had just one winning season with the All-Star point guard.
The NBA trade deadline is February 5. It will be interesting to see if Ball is traded.