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Charlotte Hornets: 3 Trade targets that fit LaMelo Ball’s timeline

By George Mentzos

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 08: LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets shoots over Josh Hart #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans during a NBA game at Smoothie King Center on January 08, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 08: LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets shoots over Josh Hart #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans during a NBA game at Smoothie King Center on January 08, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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De’Anthony Melton, Memphis Grizzlies(Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
De’Anthony Melton, Memphis Grizzlies(Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

Three trade targets that fit LaMelo Ball’s timeline: De’Anthony Melton – Memphis Grizzlies – Age 23

De’Anthony Melton makes a ton of sense as a fit with any NBA team, but especially with one that has Ball and Bouknight in its guard rotation. The Grizzlies backup guard has made real improvements to his game in all three seasons of his young career, especially as a shooter. He went from shooting 29% on 2.3 attempts per game from three in the 2019-20 season to 41% on 4.1 attempts in 20-21. 4.1 threes in only 20 minutes per game are excellent for any player (7.2 attempts per 36).

Melton also provides excellent defense in both guard positions and can pick up the best offensive player on the opposing team, allowing an easier night for his partner and is an advanced stat darling while also being on an extremely team-friendly deal having signed for 4 years, $34 million last offseason.

Averaging over two steals and a block per 36 minutes, Melton is a player with a very unique skillset for a guard who has a ton of untapped upside. He has also made a real improvement while running Memphis’ bench unit and getting more scoring reps last year as a sparkplug, a side effect of the Grizzlies’ unfortunate COVID and injury absences.

His playmaking is a work in progress with his raw assist numbers slightly dropping from 3.2 in his rookie season to 2.5 per game last year, and his assist to turnover ratio always remains a little above 1. However, with Ball running the show, Hayward being an excellent creator on the wing, and the Hornets tending to prefer playmaking bigs on the roster, if Melton was to join the team soon a lot of his weaknesses on that front would be slightly nullified.

All in all, a very young player who has experience playing minutes on a pretty good team in the western conference, with a clear elite skill in his defense and improving shooting ability, really fits the blueprint on who you want playing next to Ball. You are hoping he keeps improving but even if his counting stats don’t show it other than three-point shooting, you are banking on a player who has substantially improved his game every season of his career and can take steps along with some of the other guys in your young core.

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