The noise surrounding LaMelo Ball's future with the Charlotte Hornets has continued to grow louder, especially with the offseason only several weeks away.
There have been some calls for the team to trade him, acquire assets in the process, and rebuild around a different foundation, such as Brandon Miller or the prospect it would pick in the 2025 draft. On the other hand, some people believe that giving up on a young player with superstar potential, even despite his flaws, would be the wrong move.
Something to consider, though, is that Ball might not have as high of a value as the Hornets would hope, considering that he has often been injured and his impact on winning has been put into question throughout his young career.
Gordon Hayward believes LaMelo Ball still has a lot to prove
Former Hornets star Gordon Hayward, who arrived in Charlotte via trade in the same offseason that Ball was drafted, offered his two cents about the matter in a recent appearance on "Run It Back."
The 2017 All-Star acknowledged that the Dallas Mavericks' inexplicable decision to ship Luka Doncic last month to the Los Angeles Lakers proved that no star is safe in trade talks. However, he also stated that opposing general managers might balk at the idea of giving up too much of their assets for Ball.
Hayward then shared what he would do if he were in his former teammate's shoes, saying, "If I'm LaMelo, I'm just trying to get myself right, just try to get as healthy as I can be because I have to prove to the league that I can carry a franchise."
The retired swingman recognized that Ball can carry the franchise for "10-15 games." He even saw it himself, as he and the point guard helped lead the Hornets to their last winning season in the 2021-22 campaign when they went 43-39. Unfortunately, that was good for just the No. 10 seed in the surprisingly tough Eastern Conference that year.
It remains to be seen if Ball has what it takes to lead a squad through an entire regular season and the playoffs, which some may have forgotten that he hasn't even experienced yet.
Of course, the first thing the former Rookie of the Year has to do is find ways to keep his body healthy. He has only had one campaign under his belt where he suited up in more than 51 contests, and that was the 2021-22 season. This year, Ball has already missed 23 games and might have to sit out several more, as his performances in the past weeks might indicate that he is still in some sort of pain.
The Hornets also have to do a better job of providing their cornerstone with a healthier and stronger supporting cast. That is contingent, though, on whether the front office does decide to continue building around him.