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

Grade the Trade: Hornets trade LaMelo Ball to Lakers in 3-team deal with Kings

Incoming: Kevin Huerter, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, 2026 first-round swap (via LAL), 2028 first-round swap (via LAL), 2029 first-round pick (via LAL; unprotected), 2031 first-round pick (via LAL; top-1 protected, converts to 2031 second-round pick if not conveyed), 2025 second-round pick (most favorable of LAL or LAC), 2026 second-round pick (via SAC), 2030 second-round pick (via LAL)

Outgoing: LaMelo Ball

This trade would see the Charlotte Hornets get an absolute haul. They would get a ton of draft picks and a quality rookie in Dalton Knecht, who could help them mightily moving forward.

If the Hornets were determined to completely reset around Brandon Miller, this would be a solid deal. If they wanted to move on from LaMelo Ball and his injury issues, this would be a solid deal.

But it doesn’t seem as though they want to do those things.

Based on the way the Hornets have approached this offseason, they seem focused on building around their young core and shaping their future the right way. And Ball is the centerpiece of those plans. (Well, him and Brandon Miller.)

Ball’s elite playmaking is crucial to the Hornets’ success, and his shot-making leads the way in Charlotte. And that’s without even mentioning how much his star power helps their organization’s brand. He’s the face of the franchise.

Sure, getting Knecht and a ton of picks would be cool, but it’s not worth giving up Ball for, despite his plethora of injury problems.

Rather than looking to trade Ball, the Hornets should continue to focus on building out the team around him.

Grade: C-