NBA Rumors: Hornets’ LaMelo Ball Won’t Be Traded; Considered ‘Building Block’

Adam WellsJanuary 10, 2024

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As the Charlotte Hornets navigate their way through another disappointing season, one of their options leading up to the trade deadline won’t include moving LaMelo Ball.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Hornets have “no intention” of trading Ball, who is considered “one of their building blocks” with rookie Brandon Miller.

Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, has shown promising signs during his rookie campaign. He’s averaging 14.3 points on 36.8 percent three-point shooting in 30 appearances.

The Hornets have lost 13 of their last 14 games and own the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference at 8-26 overall.

One reason they are sitting near the bottom of the NBA standings is because Ball hasn’t played since Nov. 26. He suffered a sprained ankle in the second quarter against the Orlando Magic.

Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer reported on Monday that Ball is “in the final phase of his rehabilitation” and could be back “relatively soon” after being a full participant in Sunday’s practice.

Ball looked like he had taken his game to another level before suffering the injury. He was averaging a career-high 24.7 points on 38.8 percent three-point shooting with 8.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game in 15 starts.

The Hornets aren’t exactly loaded with talent right now, so the idea of trading a 22-year-old point guard who has already made an All-Star team wouldn’t be good business. He also just signed a five-year max extension in July that ties him to the organization through 2028-29.

Terry Rozier is the best trade chip the Hornets have to play if they want to add future assets. He’s signed through the 2024-25 season with a partial guarantee for 2026-27.

Ball’s injury may have helped Rozier increase his trade value. The 29-year-old is averaging a career-high 24.3 points and 7.2 assists per game in 23 starts this season.

If the Hornets can get Ball and Miller on the court together for the second half of the season, they will be able to get a proper glimpse of what their future is going to look like.