Lonzo Ball doesn't appear to think that his brother, LaMelo, will stay with the Charlotte Hornets for long. The eldest Ball bro said on a recent episode of his podcast that he envisions the Hornets trading up in the draft to select Dylan Harper and shipping LaMelo to the LA Clippers.
That sounds like a bad plan if you're still a LaMelo Ball believer or a solid strategy if you're among those who want Charlotte to rebuild around Brandon Miller and whichever stud it ends up with in the 2025 draft.
Harper wouldn't be a bad replacement for the younger Ball as the Hornets' foundational point guard. A lot of draft experts are predicting the standout from Rutgers University to one day become a star in the NBA because of his impressive skill set that includes potentially elite ball-handling, playmaking, finishing at the rim, and spot-up shooting. Defensively, he has the tools to at least be a disruptive force because of his length and athleticism.
Lonzo's prediction just reminds Hornets fans of how unfortunate team has been
However, Harper is expected to be taken off the board by the San Antonio Spurs (or another team if they decide to ship the pick) at second overall. So, that means the Hornets would have to find a way to get San Antonio to agree to a pick swap. It would probably be fine if they had an expendable player who could entice the Spurs to trade down, but they don't. Perhaps if Charlotte is willing to give up one of its future draft selections, a deal would work.
However, other suitors for the 2025 No. 2 pick could be armed with better proposals. For instance, there have been discussions about the Spurs possibly packaging that asset for a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo. If that's the asking price, the Hornets might have to include Brandon Miller in the negotiations for San Antonio to even think of pushing through with a deal. A hefty price, if you ask me.
Then, there's the issue of sending LaMelo Ball to an organization that doesn't appear to have anything of value to Charlotte. A look at the Clippers' roster shows that their arguably only high-value trade asset for a rebuilding squad like the Hornets is Ivica Zubac. It's worth noting that the surprising Defensive Player of the Year candidate is already 27.
Now, let's say the younger Ball asks to be shipped to LA to be nearer his hometown and play for a big-market franchise. The thing is, he doesn't have enough leverage for the Hornets to simply say yes to his request.
Based on the circumstances, Lonzo Ball's speculation might not come to fruition at all. It just serves as a painful reminder of how the Hornets have a superstar-in-the-making who can't reach his potential for now due to injuries and the nightmarish result of the draft lottery that would presumably have them missing out on Cooper Flagg and Harper.