One NBA executive told Brian Windhorst of ESPN that if Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and Hawks guard Trae Young all hit the trade market, he thinks Ball would have the best market. 

Ball has never been to the playoffs, while Young and Morant have.

Young has even reached the Eastern Conference Finals. 

"If you're asking me if Trae, Ja and LaMelo all came onto the trade market tomorrow, I think LaMelo would have the best market," the NBA executive said. "But that's all hypothetical right now."

The Hornets drafted Ball with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Ball won the 2020-21 Rookie of the Year Award and made the 2022 All-Star team.

However, Charlotte has only had one winning record in the Ball era and Ball has never played in more than 75 games in a season. 

The 24-year-old Ball has played in six games this season. He's averaging 23.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists while shooting 43.0% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 81.5% from the free-throw line. 

Ball is currently out with an ankle injury. He has dealt with ankle injuries his entire NBA career. 

"He still doesn't know who he is," a Western Conference scout said about Ball. "I think you can justify buying into the talent."

Ball is making $37.9 million this season. He played in 47 games for the Hornets last season and averaged 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists while shooting 40.5% from the field, 33.9% from beyond the arc and 84.3% from the free-throw line.

The Hornets signed Ball to a five-year, $203 million extension in 2023. As of now, there are no rumors stating that Charlotte is looking to trade Ball, who doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract.

 "Yes, he's talented, but he doesn't take basketball seriously enough," an NBA scout said about Ball. "It's hard to build a winner with him because of how he plays, and the liberties he takes for himself when he plays.

"Would someone take a flier on him? For sure. But Charlotte isn't taking a flier price for him."