The Charlotte Hornets made a shocking announcement on Friday, revealing that LaMelo Ball would miss the final 10 games of the regular season. He is set to undergo what was described as minor procedures to address some lingering pain in his previously injured ankle and wrist.
For some folks, though, the decision to shut Ball down wasn't surprising at all, especially considering the Hornets' pursuit of a top draft pick this summer and the star's extensive injury history. Should the front office have made the call sooner? That notion might have some merit, given how inconsistent and underwhelming his performance in recent weeks had been (which is likely due to playing through pain).
So, while it may only be right that Ball had already played his last game this season, perhaps it's time to ask if the NBA world will even see him suit up for the Hornets again.
LaMelo Ball trade whispers could grow louder as offseason nears
If we look at Ball's skill set, star power, and leadership potential, it might seem like a bad idea for Charlotte to give him up. A guy like him, especially one who plays the point guard position, doesn't come too often, and the team was fortunate to have landed him with the third pick in the 2020 draft.
However, lead executive Jeff Peterson showed during the past trade deadline that he isn't afraid to extend the franchise's rebuild when he let go of Mark Williams in exchange for a package headlined by a future asset instead of a piece that could have helped in the present. So, it would only be mildly astonishing if he opted to swap LaMelo for a possible godfather trade offer from a squad desperate for a star playmaker.
A good number of pundits have expressed their belief that the Hornets shouldn't build around Ball because of his fragile health and supposed inability to impact winning for Charlotte. It's quite intriguing how recency bias may have caused people to forget that it was only three years ago when the 23-year-old phenom helped steer the squad to its only winning record in the previous nine campaigns.
The money tied up to Ball, whose five-year, $204 million contract extension that was signed in the summer of 2023 just kicked in this season, has also been perceived as detrimental to the Hornets' hopes of building a long-term contender. However, it's not as if the club will have better use of its cap space than paying its potential superstar.
It remains to be seen what route Peterson and his think tank take this offseason. Ball's fans may not agree with it but might have to brace themselves for the possibility of seeing him in another jersey next campaign.