LaMelo Ball had been the face of the Charlotte Hornets for the past season. However, his injuries never redeemed his team from the East’s bottom standings. On Sunday, Sportskeeda writer Juan David presented a trade scenario that would send Ball to his hometown team, the LA Clippers, suggesting he leaves the Hornets for a massive rebuilding.
In his mock proposal, David suggested that the Clippers would receive LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams in exchange for sending Ivica Zubac, Norman Powell, and Bogdan Bogdanović—along with an unprotected first-round pick in 2027 and another first-round in 2029—to the Hornets.
In exchange, LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams land with the Clippers.
However, David emphasized that the Hornets would likely only consider such a deal if they secured elite prospects in the upcoming draft, notably Duke’s Cooper Flagg, Rutgers’ Ace Bailey, or Dylan Harper.
The writer also highlighted the Hornets’ need to rebuild their roster centered around Brandon Miller and the upcoming prospect.
The Hornets have a high first-round pick in the 2025 NBA draft, although their exact position is yet to be determined in the Draft Lottery this May 12. They also have the 33rd and 34th picks in the second round.
While the proposed Clippers trade scenario presents an intriguing roster shift, its likelihood remains uncertain. LaMelo Ball has been positioned as a core player for the Hornets, averaging a career-high 25.2 points per game this season despite being limited to 47 appearances due to injury.
However, if Ball continues being riddled with his injuries and fails to find a breakthrough in the following seasons, Charlotte may eventually reevaluate his role within the organization.
LaMelo Ball shares subtle response amidst trade rumors
LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets ended the season with a disappointing 19–63 record, placing them near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Despite Ball’s strong individual performance, speculation emerged about a potential move to another team. However, Ball has publicly stated that he has no intention of leaving the Hornets.
“I’m bothered if I don’t eat, if I ain’t got the meal, I’ll call my people, hopefully some food will come. Bother means like stuff throughout the day. Like the dog pisses on the floor or something like that, that bothers me. Little stuff like that. But telling you to go somewhere or do this, nah. It can’t,” Ball said during a post-game interview.
“All that you need to leave and this and that, when you build something it’s never just gonna pop off and be the best thing. You gotta stay there and work it out.”
LaMelo Ball had played his whole career with the Hornets, averaging 21.0 points, 7.4 assists, and 6.0 rebounds. He has yet to enter the Playoffs, a milestone that remains out of reach for Charlotte due to their standings.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
