A team in the East checked in on the trade availability of Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball.
According to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, a team in the Eastern Conference checked in on the trade availability of Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball over the summer.
That team was the Toronto Raptors.
"Speaking of trade interest, the Toronto Raptors checked in on the availability of Ball over the summer, league sources told HoopsHype," Scotto wrote. "Ironically, Ball ran out of the tunnel with the Raptors before their game against the Hornets in Toronto on December 5th. Later in the game, he injured his ankle and has been out since."
The Hornets are 8-18. They are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Meanwhile, the Raptors are 16-11. They are in third place in the East and look like a contender.
Ball has played in 16 games this season. He's averaging 19.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game while shooting 38.6% from the field, 28.5% from beyond the arc and 87.7% from the free-throw line. The 24-year-old is making $37.9 million.
Meanwhile, Kon Knueppel is having a terrific rookie campaign. The Duke product is averaging 19.0 points per game and shooting 47.2% overall, 40.5% from 3 and 92.1% from the foul line.
Many people in the NBA believe the Hornets should trade Ball and Miles Bridges and build around Knueppel and Brandon Miller. Only time will tell if that happens.
The Hornets haven't made the playoffs since 2016. They have had just one winning season since drafting Ball with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Ball doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he can't stop the Hornets from trading him. The one-time All-Star has career averages of 20.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game.
The Los Angeles Clippers have been linked to Ball since they need a point guard and Ball was born and raised in California. It will be fascinating to see if the Clippers reach out to the Hornets about trading for LaMelo.
In the meantime, Charlotte will look to get its top players healthy and make a push in the Eastern Conference standings. Ball is currently out with another ankle injury. He's dealt with foot issues his entire NBA career.