Should the Charlotte Hornets give up on LaMelo Ball, trade him to the highest bidder, and build around Brandon Miller and whoever they get in the 2025 draft?
That is certainly an intriguing thought, which wouldn't be a no-brainer if Ball wasn't on the injury report as often as he has been in his five seasons in the league. Having had just one healthy campaign, which notably saw the Hornets finish with a winning record in the regular season, the star's ability to lead the franchise's much-anticipated turnaround has been put into question a lot.
Still, Ball is undoubtedly better than any other player Charlotte has right now. Maybe Miller has the potential to overtake his teammate in the pecking order one day, but his present weaknesses prevent him from becoming a No. 1 option.
Brandon Miller still has to level up with his decision-making with the ball
The 22-year-old swingman has already shown the potential to be an all-world scorer, displaying a deft shooting touch anywhere from the midrange to behind the 3-point line. While he has also been able to finish well inside the paint and dunk over taller opponents from time to time, he just hasn't developed his handling enough to blow by perimeter defenders on a regular basis. And there lies one of his weaknesses.
So far, Miller has been best utilized as an off-ball threat and a secondary shot-creator. If the Hornets want to move on from Ball, they should be able to rely on the former No. 2 pick as a reliable go-to guy whenever he has the ball in his hands.
In addition to his relatively subpar handles, Miller also has ways to go when it comes to his decision-making with the rock. To be fair, he has made a leap in the assists department, increasing his average dimes from 2.4 last season to 3.6 per game this year. If he continues to raise that further, maybe the Hornets can start to consider handing the reins to the budding star soon and explore the possibility of shipping Ball.
Of course, some improvements don't happen overnight. So, letting go of the playmaker this summer might not be the ideal route for the organization unless it wants to remain at the bottom of the standings for at least one more season.
Or maybe there is no need to trade Melo. After all, there doesn't seem to be any conflict between him and Miller in terms of skill sets and personalities. In fact, they appear to complement each other well. There is definitely a future for the Hornets where BMill has transformed into the squad's No. 1 weapon while Ball serves as a true facilitator instead of a high-usage scorer.