Grade the Trade: Charlotte Hornets Flip LaMelo Ball for Jaylen Brown
By Adam Taylor
As the Charlotte Hornets look to rebuild their roster, nothing should be off the table. Unfortunately, that means LaMelo Ball should be available if the returning pieces make sense. Of course, not many moves for a future All-NBA level guard are going to be appealing for Mitch Kupchak and the Hornets’ front office, but it would appear that one potential trade could move the needle just enough to make Charlotte sit up and answer the phone.
Recently, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics has found his name being floated in trade rumors. After making the 2023 All-NBA second team, Brown has become supermax eligible, which has created a divide among the Celtics fanbase, with some sections of the media also claiming the All-Star wing isn’t worth such an outlandish contract.
With that in mind, Brown has once again become the focal point of Boston’s offseason. Yet, you will be hard-pressed to find a potential trade that ensures the Celtics get fair value back for their 26-year-old wing. That’s where the Hornets’ come in.
According to CLNS Media’s ‘Garden Report’ one potential trade that makes sense for both teams is a deal that would see LaMelo Ball heading to the Celtics, with Brown coming to the Hornets’ in return.
"“I’ve been pretty impressed with his game,” CLNS Media’s James Toscano said. “When he is on and when he is healthy, I think he is the right style point guard for this team. I think him and Tatum would be unbelievable together. They put on a show, they’d be entertaining as hell, and I think they’d win games. And this is a trade that I think a guy like Wick would like because LaMello ball is going to put asses in the seats more than Anthony Simons is going to.”"
The Charlotte Hornets would become relevant in the Eastern Conference.
There’s no denying LaMelo’s talent and what a team built around him could potentially look like. However, Jaylen Brown is already an All-Star and All-NBA-level guy. With the Celtics, Brown will always be the second option behind Jayson Tatum, so now might be the time to try a prise him away from Beantown – if you can get a commitment that he will re-sign with the Hornets before the start of the new season.
The duo of Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown would ensure the Hornets don’t repeat their offensive shortcomings from last season. While the potential return of Miles Bridges will also help bolster the Hornets’ firepower.
Furthermore, Brown is a far better defender than LaMelo at this point in time, which would help Steve Clifford continue developing a defensive identity that can help carry the Hornets during stretches where shots aren’t falling.