A new NBA trade rumor involving Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball has emerged.
According to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Toronto Raptors checked in on Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball over the offseason.
The Raptors and Hornets obviously didn't agree to a deal since Ball is still in Charlotte.
Toronto is looking for a point guard. They have been linked to Ball and Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant.
A few months ago, many people around the NBA thought the Hornets would trade Ball and fully build around talented young forwards Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel.
However, Ball is playing well with Miller and Knueppel and the one-time All-Star is now expected to remain with Charlotte past the 2026 NBA trade deadline.
Ball has appeared in 31 games this season. He's averaging 20.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game while shooting 41.9% from the field, 37.9% from beyond the arc and 87.9% from the free-throw line.
The Hornets are only 15-26, but they are coming off a massive road win against LeBron James, Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers. Charlotte beat Los Angeles by a final score of 135-117 and the Lakers had no answers for Ball, Miller, Knueppel and Miles Bridges.
Ball had 30 points and 11 assists, Miller had 26 points, Bridges had 25 points and eight rebounds and Knueppel had 19 points and seven rebounds.
Ball is making $37.9 million this season. He signed a massive five-year, $203 million extension with the Hornets in 2023.
Ball was the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 21.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, which are great numbers, but the Hornets are only 110-152 when Ball plays. They haven't made the playoffs since 2016 and have had just one winning season since drafting LaMelo.
Barring a surprise turn of events, Ball is expected to remain with the Hornets for the rest of the season.