Grade the Trade: Mock deal sees Hornets send LaMelo Ball to Lakers in 3-teamer

With Charles Lee coming in as the head coach, the Charlotte Hornets seem to be focused on building a foundation for their future. Led by LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and the newly-re-signed Miles Bridges, Lee and the Hornets are determined to do things right.

For the past two years, the Hornets have been one of the worst teams in basketball, despite the fact that they made the Play-In Tournament in each of the prior two seasons.

Injuries certainly took their tole, and that’s something to seriously consider when talking about Ball, too. Can he stay on the court? Is he a reliable star to rebuild around?

Well, a recent mock trade written by Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report takes the stance that the answer to that question is “no.” The mock deal would send Ball to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team trade that also includes the Sacramento Kings.

Mock trade sees Hornets deal LaMelo Ball to Lakers in 3-team trade with Kings

Here are the full details of the mock deal Hughes wrote:

The Hornets would get back Dalton Knecht, who was the Lakers’ first-overall pick this year, as well as a massive haul of draft picks to help set themselves up for a bright future.

Meanwhile, the Lakers would land a point guard to play alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as well as a guy to play with Davis once James retires.

Lastly, the Kings would get involved here to land some forward depth in Rui Hachimura, as the Hornets probably wouldn’t want him in this deal.

Let’s grade the deal, for all three teams, starting with the Kings, then moving onto the Lakers, and lastly, the Hornets.