The Charlotte Hornets have yet to finalize their roster for the 2025-26 campaign, but LaMelo Ball's name has already been brought up as a potential trade candidate as early as this offseason. Hornets fans may have to brace for the possibility that Ball will be a fixture on the trading block as the season wears on.
Tim MacMahon of ESPN recently brought up the 2022 All-Star as one of Charlotte's "possible trade pieces," even if the organization is likely not thinking about pulling off drastic roster moves. In fact, the priority right now is trimming the number of standard contracts to 15, and it could mean exploring the trade market to see who may be interested in taking on some of their players in exchange for future assets.
The Hornets have little reason to ship Ball to a different home at this juncture. There are only a few franchises that are in need of or can accommodate a point guard who earns as much as he does. Also, his value is not as high as it should be because of his lingering battle with injuries. It's hard to imagine another squad giving up numerous key pieces to bet on Melo suiting up a lot more times than he spends on the sidelines.
As for Charlotte, it should not settle for receiving fewer than 100 cents on the dollar for Ball. A lone first-round pick and a bunch of second-rounders should not cut it for the front office. Otherwise, it runs the risk of taking a huge step back in its rebuild, as the star has demonstrated an incredibly high ceiling. He has just been pulled down by his injuries and the lack of a supporting cast that could thrive on offense even when he is not on the floor.
LaMelo Ball rumors could heat up later in the season
Of course, some pundits believe the Hornets would be ultimately better off separating from Ball. Intriguingly, MacMahon is one of them, as he also argued earlier this offseason that strong performances from the 24-year-old early in the 2025-26 regular season could intensify the trade talks surrounding him.
For its part, Charlotte appears intent on moving forward with Ball leading the pack. Still, things could change months from now, especially if other squads look like they should consider upgrading their backcourt to prepare for a deep playoff run or build toward the future.
Hopefully, if the Hornets start entertaining possible calls to inquire about their 2020 first-round selection, they readily turn down any offers that aren't fair value and only seek returns that would surely benefit the franchise both in the short and long run.