Grade the trade idea: Blockbuster pitch has LaMelo Ball joining LeBron James

LeBron James needs more help, and some folks believe the Los Angeles Lakers have to find a point guard to ease some of the offensive burden off the 39-year-old star. For that reason, Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball has surfaced as a possible trade target for the Purple and Gold.

There haven't been any indications that the Hornets are looking to move on from the 2022 All-Star selection. In fact, they reportedly view Ball as one of two players they have no desire to see in another uniform, with Brandon Miller being the other.

So, the Lakers might have to search for another alternative, although that won't stop people from thinking that Charlotte would willingly give up a foundational piece to help one of the league's marquee franchises.

The trade

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report asserted that the Lakers should have brought in either Ball or Trae Young this offseason, given that having James and Anthony Davis on the roster means the team has no choice but to have a championship-or-bust mentality. Young is supposedly not an option anymore, as the Atlanta Hawks have already shipped Dejounte Murray away.

However, Swartz appears to be of the opinion that Ball is a viable target. His suggested trade package the Hornets could receive is centered around D'Angelo Russell and future first-round picks.

The grade

For the Lake Show, such a move would arguably be the best the organization has pulled off since it acquired Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019. The electric point guard can provide the squad with a jolt in the playmaking and shot-creation departments and has the tools to be a complementary piece for its superstar tandem on both ends of the court.

Ball would certainly have to sacrifice a bit in the short run, but the reward could be a championship and the keys to his hometown franchise once James hangs up his shoes.

On the other hand, it's difficult to see how the Hornets would be incentivized to let go of an essential building block for what the Lakers have to offer.

Russell doesn't exactly move the needle for Charlotte, and his expiring contract isn't that appealing for a team that hasn't historically been a prime free agency destination.

The first-round draft picks would be nice to have, but obtaining them in exchange for surrendering a player of Ball's caliber would only set back the Hornets' rebuild several more years. That's not an enticing proposition because, depending on how things turn out this season, the organization could very well prove to be just a couple more pieces away from finding sustained success.

There are plenty of reasons to believe Charlotte will be a seller in the trade market as the 2024-25 campaign moves along. However, the proposed Ball-to-Lakers blockbuster deal just doesn't make sense, considering what the franchise is trying to do under its new management.