The past two weeks have shown that the Charlotte Hornets' chances of winning rely heavily on LaMelo Ball being on the hardwood. When he's on the sidelines, the Hornets lose their most reliable player on the offensive end of the floor.
A prevailing school of thought among some of the Hornets faithful is that the franchise needs the 2021 Rookie of the Year to develop into a legitimate contender sometime in the future. On the other hand, some believe Charlotte should swap him for assets, especially since his injury history has become a bit lengthier this season.
Perhaps the top brass might indeed have to explore the idea of shipping Ball, even if it has reportedly tabbed him as untouchable in trade talks. His value might be at an all-time high, given that he had averaged 40.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 5.3 3-pointers per game in his last four appearances before going down with another injury.
The trade
Several franchises have been brought up as a possible destination for Ball. However, it should be noted that the Hornets are unlikely to agree to trade proposals headlined by players without the potential to become a star or just a single first-round pick. So, any pitch involving the Los Angeles Lakers and D'Angelo Russell is nothing more than a pipe dream.
If the Brooklyn Nets were able to squeeze at least five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges this past summer, the Hornets should also look for a package similar to what the New York Knicks offered Brooklyn.
The San Antonio Spurs might be able to put forward a similar haul, albeit with just three first-round picks and three starting-caliber players. Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report suggested a blockbuster deal involving Keldon Johnson, Tre Jones, and Malaki Branham, along with three first-round selections.
The grade
Of course, the Spurs would likely do the trade in a heartbeat. Having one of the league's best young point guards today could help the organization unlock Victor Wembanyama. Ball's gravity alone would open up the floor for the future MVP and current DPOY candidate.
The Hornets, though, could do better than just a trio of first-rounders, and that could technically be merely two. Swartz didn't clear up whether San Antonio would just return their lottery-protected 2025 pick or give up its Chicago Bulls first-rounder (protected 1-10).
To be fair, the pair of 2027 first-round selections will likely have incredible value, particularly the one from the Atlanta Hawks. On the flip side, the Spurs pick might turn out to be a late selection, as a duo of Wembanyama and Ball could lift the squad to the top of the standings year after year.
The relative dearth of draft capital could be offset by the arrival of players who could at least serve as rotation pieces for the Hornets. Johnson, Jones, and Branham have had solid stints as starters for the Spurs until the new acquisitions relegated them to the bench.
Johnson might be the most intriguing of the bunch, as he has proven to be a capable scorer, putting up 22.0 points per contest three seasons ago. However, his inefficient shooting from long range might make him a bad fit with the Hornets.
Jones could be a solution to Charlotte's playmaking struggles. And even though his floor and ceiling aren't as high as those of the team's ideal trade targets, he is serviceable enough in spurts at the point, especially since the Duke University product's career assist-to-turnover ratio is 4.2.
Branham is probably the wild card among the trio. The young swingman has shown flashes of potential to be a three-level scorer, although he has yet to put his athleticism and length to good use on the defensive end. So, his value to the Hornets might not be that high.
As far as trade packages for Ball go, what the Spurs have to offer isn't the worst. It isn't the best, either.