Given their current roster, the Charlotte Hornets are likely going only as far as LaMelo Ball will take them. Unfortunately, that place has been at the bottom of the Eastern Conference for the past three years because of his inability to stay healthy.
It probably isn't a coincidence that the last time the Hornets had a winning percentage above .500 was during Ball's only season in which he did not miss a game due to injury. That was in the 2021-22 campaign when they finished 43-39, and he played in 75 games. The reasons he sat out seven contests were due to being placed under the league's health and safety protocols and contracting an undisclosed illness.
There are concerns that Ball's lack of availability, among other reasons, doesn't make him the ideal foundation to build a squad around. As Sam Vecenie of "Game Theory" podcast put it, the star "has to be on the court for them (the Hornets) to be successful."
Of course, there is little doubt about his basketball artistry. But what good is it if he can't suit up? As some people say, availability is the best ability. And Melo has yet to establish that the Hornets can trust him to be there on the court much more often than not.
LaMelo Ball is losing time to prove he deserves Hornets' trust
The 2021 Rookie of the Year has a lot to prove already, especially since there are folks around the league who don't seem to agree that he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as some of the NBA's elite.
Charlotte has also had to deal with the growing call for Ball to leave for greener pastures. For instance, his family has made it clear that they want the youngest member to bring his talents to the LA Clippers. Of course, the 23-year-old hoopster is his own man and gets to make his own decision. Still, one can't help but be worried if his days in the Queen City are numbered.
On the other hand, his fate probably depends on whether he can show up on a (hopefully) daily basis. Even if Ball wants to suit up elsewhere, he has to prove that he can overcome his injury woes and keep his body in pristine shape. That's the best he can do for the Hornets to give them the best value possible in any potential trade.
The coming offseason would be a good indicator of how Charlotte views Ball's future with the team. If it doubles down on acquiring assets that are geared more towards building for the future instead of bringing in win-now players, it might be a sign that the Hornets have trust issues with his availability.