A LaMelo Ball trade proposal sending the All-Star to a Charlotte Hornets rival in the offseason has been created.
An NBA trade proposal where the Charlotte Hornets send LaMelo Ball to a rival has been created.
NBA writer Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade proposal between the Hornets and Orlando Magic:
Orlando Magic Receive: PG LaMelo Ball
Charlotte Hornets Receive: G Jalen Suggs, F/C Wendell Carter Jr.
The Hornets and Magic are in the same division. It would certainly be strange to see Charlotte trade Ball to a divisional rival, but then again, we saw the Dallas Mavericks shock the sports world last season by trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Anything is possible in today's NBA.
"The Hornets should now be building around Kon Knueppel, who's having the greatest shooting season from a rookie in NBA history," Swartz wrote. "Suggs is a premier defender and Carter brings some floor spacing to the center position for Charlotte."
Ball will make $40,770,520 next season. He doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract. Many people in the NBA believe the Hornets should trade Ball in the offseason to create more offensive opportunities for Knueppel and Brandon Miller.
This NBA trade proposal gives Charlotte a core of Knueppel, Miller, Suggs, Carter Jr. and Moussa Diabate. Coby White could also be part of the core if the Hornets re-sign the guard in free agency this offseason.
Ball has career averages of 20.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. He's never led the Hornets to the playoffs and remains an efficient player. The one-time All-Star is shooting only 40.0% from the field this season.
Charlotte should trade Ball and re-sign White this offseason and then start White, Miller, Knueppel, Carter Jr. and Diabate next season. That's a balanced starting lineup with shooting, playmaking, scoring and, rebounding and defense.
Ball doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he can't stop the Hornets from trading him. Swartz believes Ball is a better fit in Orlando than in Charlotte.
"LaMelo Ball's playmaking would put a charge into Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane and others, and his three-point shooting (3.5 per game, 3rd in NBA) is much needed as well," Swartz wrote.
It will be fascinating to see what the Hornets do this offseason with Ball.
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