LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets have reportedly become increasingly frustrated with one another. Is an immediate separation a possibility?
Are The Hornets and LaMelo Ball Headed For A Split? What Is A Realistic Package That The Hornets Could Get In Return
Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports reported that league sources told him that Ball is becoming more frustrated with the Hornets and is open to moving on. Ball has struggled this season with his efficiency and was benched for the final 4:32 of regulation in Wednesday’s loss to Indiana. He made just 5 of 21 shots, including 2 of 11 from deep, and committed six turnovers against the Pacers.
Charlotte’s loss to Indiana was its fourth straight. The Hornets are 4-11 on the season and in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, four games behind Milwaukee. The Hornets rank 25th in defensive efficiency and have also been outscored by nearly 4 points per game this year.
Ball is off to a disappointing start to the 2025-26 campaign. The 24-year-old point guard has already missed six games due to injuries and, over 130 contests since 2022-23, is averaging 21.6 points on 18.8 shots, compiling a shooting slash line of 38.5/29.8/86.7. He has four double-doubles and one triple-double.
“League sources say the front office is increasingly hesitant about cementing Ball as a long-term foundational piece, has become disillusioned with the 24-year-old and is open to moving him,” Iko added.
Ball did respond to Iko’s report, via Twitter, last night with a clown emoji. Ball expanded on his reaction, per Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer, earlier today after the Hornets finished up practice.
“It didn’t come from me,” Ball said. “The source wasn’t me, so it’s false info. Got to let them know. I really don’t like commenting on stuff, but it got too big. I love being here.”
“We are in some downs right now, but we are definitely going to go up,” Ball continued. “I’m still confident in this whole group and everybody here.”
Will The Hornets Trade Ball?
That seems like the multimillion-dollar question?
Charlotte is 170-310 since drafting Ball with the No. 3 pick in 2020. The Hornets have not qualified for the playoffs this decade and have posted a winning record just once.
Granted, the Hornets are much better with Ball than without him. While the Hornets are 2-7 with Ball playing this year, they have a +4.2 net rating with him on the court. The Hornets have an 84-109 record when Ball plays overall.
Ball is making $37.9 million this year.. Additionally, he is owed over $130 million over the next three seasons.
Here is the thing: the Hornets are the seventh youngest team in the league at 24.6, and they haven’t had a full squad available yet. The Hornets do have some young talent, and they project to have about $28 million in cap space next summer. The Hornets do have a decision to make on Brandon Miller, who returned to the court today against the Clippers after missing the last 13 games. He will be rookie-scaled extension-eligible this summer.
In addition to Miller, Charlotte has five others on rookie contracts. The Hornets, who have four rookies on the 15-man roster, own their first-round pick in 2026. Collin Sexton, Pat Connaughton, and Mason Plumlee are unrestricted free agents next season.
If the Hornets do decide to move on from Ball, it will likely happen close to the trade deadline or, more likely, this offseason. The Hornets and any team that trades for him will want to see if he can stay healthy.
If Ball can show that he can finish the season without missing any more significant time, that will only drive up his trade value. Plus, the Hornets should give the Hornets a better idea of how a Ball, Miller, Miles Bridges, Kon Knueppel, and Ryan Kalbrenner lineup actually looks. Due to various injuries, Ball, Bridges, and Miller have played just seven games together over the last two years.
What Could The Hornets Get In A Trade For LaMelo Ball?
The most important thing about a future trade is that Ball demonstrates he can stay healthy. Ball is an elite playmaker and scorer, though he struggles on the defensive end.
Charlotte’s most significant needs are defensive help, interior scoring, and ball-handling depth at power forward and center. Trading Bridges for assets at the trade deadline may be the Hornets’ first course of action. Grant Williams, Josh Green, Connaughton, and Sexton will undoubtedly be trade candidates at the trade deadline.
Now, if the Hornets do decide to trade Ball, they will need to receive a point guard in return. Memphis, New Orleans, Dallas, Sacramento, Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn, Utah, San Antonio, Chicago, Phoenix, and Detroit are potential landing spots.
Ball To The Grizzlies
Memphis makes sense for Ball. Whether Ja Morant remains there or not.
While a straight-up trade sending Ball to the Grizzlies for Morant works for cap situations, it doesn’t make sense for either club. Neither Ball nor Morant can stay healthy, and Morant has some other baggage. Plus, Ball is the better player overall and two years younger than Morant. The only thing is that Morant is under contract for one fewer year. The Grizzlies would likely have to attach a first-round pick to the Hornets for them even to consider it.
More Sensical Trade
Grizzlies Get Ball
Hornets Receive Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., Santi Aldema, and two first-rounders (2026, 2028 )
With the addition of Ball, the Grizzlies would have the most explosive young backcourt in the league. The Grizzlies would also keep their entire starting lineup intact.
Charlotte would save over $10 million in salary cap and more in future years. Aldema can play either the four or five and is an excellent low-post scorer, particularly around the rim. The 6-11 forward can stretch the floor, though he is not a great 3-point shooter, averaging 1.4 threes at 34.4%.
Jerome, who has not played this year and is out until the New Year, is a reliable 3‑point shooter and secondary playmaker. Pippen Jr., also out until 2026, provides secondary playmaking, efficient scoring, and some defense. The 2026 first-rounder would be the better selection between the Phoenix or Memphis pick, as the Grizzlies own both. The 2028 first-rounder is also Memphis.
This trade makes most sense to occur after the regular season.
Ball To Pelicans
While a one-for-one deal with New Orleans for Zion Williamson would also work, it doesn’t make sense for the Hornets, given Williamson’s health history. The Pelicans, who are also rebuilding, would have to send out draft capital, and they don’t have a first-round pick in 2026.
More Sensible Trade
Pelicans receive Ball
Hornets get Dejounte Murray or Jordan Poole, Yves Missi, and three first-round draft picks (2028, 2030, 2032).
Murray is coming off a significant injury and likely wouldn’t be in the Hornets’ plan. So, they would likely flip him for more draft assets and preferably a starting point guard. Still, the Hornets would likely prefer Murray to Poole, though the 26-year-old only has one more year left on his deal. Missi provides scoring at the rim, rebounding, and shot-blocking.
3-Team Trade With Sacramento and Dallas
Not sure how likely this trade would happen, but it does work. All three organizations need a reboot. This is a trade-deadline deal, though it is possible a simpler trade could be constructed in the offseason.
Mavericks get Ball and Pat Connaughton.
Kings get Kyrie Irving and draft compensation.
Hornets get Klay Thompson, Malik Monk, and Dennis Schroder, and draft compensation.
There is no word on when Kyrie Irving is expected to return this year. Monk and Schroder would theoretically replace Ball’s production and give the Hornets salary relief in the future.
More Sensible Trade
Sacramento gets Ball
Hornets get Monk, Keegan Murray, and Keon Ellis
Ball Goes To Utah
Jazz gets Ball
Hornets get Walker Kessler, Cody Williams, Jusuf Nurkic, and two first-round picks (2027, 2029)
Kessler won’t play the rest of the season and is on an expiring contract. So, the Hornets would need to make a trade in the offseason (sign-and-trade) or get assurance that Kessler will re-up. Obviously, if this trade weren’t to occur until the offseason, it would look different, as Nurkic is a free agent and Kessler’s contract would be greater. Williams has been a bust thus far and would be a salary filler. The Jazz have a boatload of draft picks, so draft compensation isn’t an issue.
Ball Heads To San Antonio
Spurs get Ball
Hornets get Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, and first-round picks (2026 and 2028).
Ball would fit nicely with De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs would still have Dylan Harper, Julian Champaignie, and Keldon Johnson to fill in for the loss of Vassell and Castle. Castle and Harper are currently out with injuries.
Castle would become the Hornets’ point guard of the future while Vassell would provide shooting and secondary ball-handling from the bench. The 2026 first-round pick would either be the Spurs or Chicago’s (top-eight protected).
Ball Heads To Chicago
This trade would likely have to occur after the season, as the Bulls’ two most desirable assets are set to become free agents: Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu.
Bulls get Ball
Hornets get White, Patrick Williams, and a 2028 first-round pick
© Sam Sharpe, Imagn Images
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