Reports have surfaced of late that LaMelo Ball wants out of Charlotte. One has to ask if it is time to move on from the Hornets point guard.
The first month of the 2025-26 NBA season has started like it always seems to for Charlotte. The Hornets won just four of their first 15 games. It is not working with Ball as the leader of this team. I have to wonder if ownership is thinking about finding a new leader for this franchise.
One ongoing issue is Ball’s availability. He has appeared in just 114 games since the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign. He’s never reached the playoffs. He’s never been known to play defense. His efficiency on offense is significantly down this season. He checks every box for the Hornets to make a change.
If Charlotte chooses to make a trade, there should be a pretty good market for Ball. He is just 24 years old. He’s never played for a stable and functioning NBA organization. Someone has to have the thought that Ball would flourish as a second or third option instead of being the man for Charlotte.
Just for fun, I am going to put some trade proposals out there for ownership. I believe any of these players would aid the Hornets in yet another rebuilding project.
How about a trade with Miami? Tyler Herro and a draft pick for Ball sounds fair to me. Both need a change of scenery
Another possibility is the Los Angeles Clippers. I am not sure this has much chance as the Clippers do not have any players who would help Charlotte. They do have first round picks but I would hope the Hornets want a proven star-type player like Herro in return.
Houston also has draft picks available and might like to add some scoring to its roster. The Rockets are loaded and Ball would be a role player for them. This team will make a deep playoff run with or without Ball.
Dallas is a possibility. Cooper Flagg is the ideal long-term, on-court partner for Ball. Flagg can do just about everything except run an offense, as Dallas’ ill-fated point guard experiment early in the season showed. Ball would make his life far easier on offense. Flagg, in turn, would do all of the little things Ball has never really done. Anthony Davis and a draft pick is something to think about.
What I would like to see is a trade with Portland. Scoot Henderson may be available. The Hornets passed on him a few years ago because they already had Ball at the point guard slot. Henderson’s speed would fit quite well next to rising star Kon Knueppel, who looks like one of the best shooters in the NBA already. So how about a swap of young guards? Charlotte could get Henderson and Jerami Grant for Ball.
Look for something to happen. Or maybe nothing will happen and the Hornets will stay below mediocrity.
