Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball has been a long-rumored name when it comes to trade news, but with the recent trade deadline, the Hornets did not push through with any rumored moves around him. However, new buzz in the rumor mill is suggesting that the franchise may move forward from Ball in the coming offseason.
New reports from the rumor mill indicate with the blockbuster trade that brought Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, and how the trade elevated the franchise to be #2 in the Western Conference, NBA execs are now exploring options in moving players that could also revolutionize their franchise the same way that happened to the Lakers. With that said, one of the names floating around has been LaMelo Ball.
In a piece by Sportskeeda, the possibility of Ball going to the Phoenix Suns could be one thing, provided that the Arizona team is willing to move around their roster to make room for Ball.
Pairing LaMelo Ball with Devin Booker in the backcourt could create a dominant duo in the Western Conference. The Suns have a history of success with elite point guards, and Ball’s playmaking abilities would complement Booker’s scoring prowess.
Although the Suns don’t have many draft picks to offer, they have other assets that could make a trade possible, including trading kevin Durant or negotiating the no-trade clause with Bradley Beal.
More Rumors Point to LaMelo Ball Getting Traded During Offseason
As the offseason comes closer, more and more teams and players are preparing to make moves that could help them prepare for a better 2025-2026 season. Usually, teams would manage their roster, cash flow, and salary cap. In the case of the Hornets, it has long been rumored that they are looking to rebuild their roster from the ground up.
“Looking ahead, Ball wants to start winning,” Michael Scotto of HoopsHype said in a new report. “Thus, is Ball willing to endure more losing and lessen his chances of individual accolades as the Hornets continue rebuilding under the new regime of executive Jeff Peterson and coach Charles Lee?”
“Will the Hornets equally want to pay Ball, who’s in the first year of a five-year, $204 million contract, while the team has yet to win with him as the face of the franchise and is in the early stages of a rebuild?”
With the rumored rebuilding that the Hornets are supposedly planning, LaMelo Ball could be traded and the franchise could take advantage of his salary range to acquire younger talents that could stay with them for a longer time.
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