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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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Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

Three trade targets that fit LaMelo Ball’s timeline: Jarrett Allen – Cleveland Cavaliers – Age: 23

While not the first time this blog has mentioned the possibility of the Hornets acquiring Jarrett Allen, I am penciling this in for multiple reasons, the biggest being that in my opinion after the Cavs drafted Evan Mobley and Allen signed his five-year, $100 million extension it’s much easier to see a future where he is traded.

Not only is  Mobley the future for the Cavs at the center position, even if he is not and they are content with him being at power forward, the fit between him and Allen is merely okay and there’s a large amount of very talented bigs or forward-big hybrids at the top of the 2022 draft, and it is my opinion that the Cavs are at least a year away from being above tanking.

That doesn’t mean I would just like to see this deal happen because of convenience. I am a big fan of both PJ Washington and Kai Jones who both projects to be versatile combo bigs for the Hornets, but you have to ask the simple question.

What if Ball would fit better with a more traditional rim protector and pick and roll center?

Allen as an archetype fits the mold of what the modern non-star center in the NBA is. He is an excellent rim protector who knows how to defend in a drop coverage scheme, he’s not helpless on switches, he is a deadly leaper which helps with rebounding, a big weakness for the Hornets last year, altering shots and being a lob threat, while he’s also improving as a short roll threat. He’s shooting around 44% from 16 ft and in midrange looks, while also making some reads from there.

Any improvement in that regard would be very pleasant since Ball’s range is potentially deadly and you want to take advantage of that by setting screens higher than the three-point line to open more space for everyone else to operate from his gravity.

For example, in a four-on-three situation with Allen having the ball inside the three-point line he can hit an open Miles Bridges who can then either take a three or slash for a dunk, that’s just easy offense for everyone involved. Granted this is not going to be the main source of offense for the Hornets as James Borrego preaches a more egalitarian approach, but if Ball even approaches superstardom, this will be a weapon in the team’s arsenal.

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