Sometime after Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports sent shockwaves around the league with his story on LaMelo Ball's supposed frustration with the Charlotte Hornets, renowned NBA insider Jake Fischer said he made some calls and concluded the report might be premature. Fischer asserted on his show on Bleacher Report, "I can tell you with absolute certainty that the Hornets are not actively looking to move LaMelo Ball anytime soon."
The purported reason is that Charlotte wants to see first how it will fare when its core pieces are on the floor together. And that makes perfect sense because Ball could be the perfect playmaker alongside the recovering Brandon Miller and the current Rookie of the Year favorite Kon Knueppel.
Some might argue that the 2022 All-Star focuses too much on scoring and flashy plays, but that could not be further from the truth. The fact that the Hornets are a much better offensive unit with him on the floor is a testament to his ability to make plays not just for himself and his teammates. Besides, his two-man screening action with Knueppel has been the stuff of nightmares for opponents and could be even more potent once Miller and his offensive gravity return to the lineup.
Jake Fischer also believes LaMelo Ball wants to stay
For his part, Ball has already made his feelings known about the rumor using a clown emoji. Should he have addressed it more bluntly by explicitly denying its veracity? Probably. However, Fischer said that, "to his understanding," the Hornets mainstay does not want to leave.
Maybe trade discussions will take place later in the season — when the trade deadline is looming and once the Hornets have compelling evidence to conclude that a trio of Ball, Miller, and Knueppel just won't work sustainably. But for now, it's reasonable to expect that the organization will stay put.
Some fans may not like it. But is there any realistic Ball deal out there that can supply the Hornets with a player of similar value or multiple first-round selections?
Perhaps if the Sacramento Kings make Domantas Sabonis available. Even swapping Ball for Trae Young or Jo Morant is an intriguing idea. However, each of those players also brings his own baggage. Meanwhile, teams that might want an upgrade at point guard may not be willing or do not have the capacity to shell out at least one first-rounder. If Charlotte wants to split up with Melo, it should be prepared to receive an underwhelming return.
So, all things considered, Fischer's revelation certainly holds water. The last thing the Hornets would want to do is rush to a decision when they have an established star, a rising star, and a potential star who have only played together for one game and (technically) one quarter.