Is LaMelo Ball Available?

[bpcox05]

Curious to get Charlotte fans perspective on their situation and where they see their team going. Do you see Ball in your long term plans or do you think CHA would be open/actively looking to move him?

[Donkedave]

Would be very interesting, the way it is now he’s very expensive injury prone risk. But a damn good player when healthy. What would his value be as a trade target? Hmm

[jayjaysee]

Not a CLT fan.

But any of the top 3 (or four with VJ) in this draft seem a good-great fit with Ball/Miller duo..

I think you have to hold on to Ball another year and blame this season on injury.. some other roster moves and expect to be a play-in team.

Only way I think Ball is available is if getting Flagg is enough for CLT to think they should reset their rebuild. I don’t think they should even with Flagg... They can always trade Ball at the deadline or next draft if they decide.

[HornetJail]

he is not

[KembaWalker]

sure, not at the price that RealGMers would value him at though

[MasterIchiro]

Any interest in Josh Green?

[Texas Chuck]

He should be. Not that I think they should necessarily be shopping him. But he's not a guy who should be seen as untouchable or as a franchise player. Just because a guy is your best player, doesn't mean he's worth building around. And how can we not have serious doubts at this point?

[esvl]

He should be. Not that I think they should necessarily be shopping him. But he's not a guy who should be seen as untouchable or as a franchise player. Just because a guy is your best player, doesn't mean he's worth building around. And how can we not have serious doubts at this point?

What is normal in Dallas is not necessarily… you know…

[Texas Chuck]

He should be. Not that I think they should necessarily be shopping him. But he's not a guy who should be seen as untouchable or as a franchise player. Just because a guy is your best player, doesn't mean he's worth building around. And how can we not have serious doubts at this point?

What is normal in Dallas is not necessarily… you know…

Huh? Dallas had a guy worth building around and traded him because they are idiots. Ball is nothing approaching Luka Doncic.

[hugepatsfan]

He should be. Not that I think they should necessarily be shopping him. But he's not a guy who should be seen as untouchable or as a franchise player. Just because a guy is your best player, doesn't mean he's worth building around. And how can we not have serious doubts at this point?

Don't disagree with you here, but I think you only touched on the basketball side of things. There's also a marketing/financial impact of simply having someone noteworthy and exciting on your team. Also, as much as we rip on "casual fans" even NBA players themselves also have a soft spot for that "hooper" aesthetic. There's an argument to be made that having Ball on the team, if all breaks right, could actually get a significant NBA piece to give them a look as a place to play.

[KembaWalker]

saying "building around" (which is in itself a goofy term that I can't stand) LaMelo Ball has been a failure its pretty silly. I mean, yeah, Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier didn't work out as a core around him, wow big shocker. Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller as a 2nd year player going down to a brutal 6 month injury didn't work, wow big shocker.

maybe you can't build a good team around LaMelo Ball, but I certainly wouldn't use this franchises god awful attempts at it as solid evidence of that.

[jbk1234]

I agree with Chuck here. Obviously, the issue is value and what's being offered, but if it's a reasonable offer, you have to consider it.

[wemby]

Not a Lamelo fan: lots of talent but inefficient on offense, nonexistent on defense, serious health concerns, doesn't strike you as a leader that will help you win. Hornets should be open to moving him the first good offer they get. A good return for Lamelo plus Brandon Miller and a couple top prospects from this draft and next should make for an excellent foundation in Charlotte.

[Texas Chuck]

He should be. Not that I think they should necessarily be shopping him. But he's not a guy who should be seen as untouchable or as a franchise player. Just because a guy is your best player, doesn't mean he's worth building around. And how can we not have serious doubts at this point?

Don't disagree with you here, but I think you only touched on the basketball side of things. There's also a marketing/financial impact of simply having someone noteworthy and exciting on your team. Also, as much as we rip on "casual fans" even NBA players themselves also have a soft spot for that "hooper" aesthetic. There's an argument to be made that having Ball on the team, if all breaks right, could actually get a significant NBA piece to give them a look as a place to play.

I'd have to look at Charlotte attendance/ratings to have an idea of what kind of draw he is. Maybe he is a big enough one.

Again, I'm not saying shop him. I am saying, if a team comes and blows you away, don't dismiss it out of hand. He's simply not that level of player.

And I'll believe he's a lure to other stars in Charlotte when I see it.

[Texas Chuck]

saying "building around" (which is in itself a goofy term that I can't stand) LaMelo Ball has been a failure its pretty silly. I mean, yeah, Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier didn't work out as a core around him, wow big shocker. Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller as a 2nd year player going down to a brutal 6 month injury didn't work, wow big shocker.

maybe you can't build a good team around LaMelo Ball, but I certainly wouldn't use this franchises god awful attempts at it as solid evidence of that.

I mean we only have the evidence we have. Maybe he's Cade 2.0 just waiting for the right coach/mix. It';s definitely possible. But we are basing that on hopes and dreams and not actual evidence. And I don't want to tell any fans not to have hopes and dreams. Mavs fans have none right now and it sucks and Charlotte has basically had none for their entire existence. So if you believe, believe.

Sucks to have a team seemingly unable to put together a quality NBA product. So I feel for you. I'm jsut not as convinced as you. I should be allowed.

[jbk1234]

saying "building around" (which is in itself a goofy term that I can't stand) LaMelo Ball has been a failure its pretty silly. I mean, yeah, Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier didn't work out as a core around him, wow big shocker. Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller as a 2nd year player going down to a brutal 6 month injury didn't work, wow big shocker.

maybe you can't build a good team around LaMelo Ball, but I certainly wouldn't use this franchises god awful attempts at it as solid evidence of that.

He's managed to stay on the court for 50 games in only one of his five seasons. That's a serious problem in terms of continuity and team chemistry. The Pelicans had a lot more talent than the Hornets but Zion's availability issues crippled that franchise on an annual basis.

[KembaWalker]

saying "building around" (which is in itself a goofy term that I can't stand) LaMelo Ball has been a failure its pretty silly. I mean, yeah, Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier didn't work out as a core around him, wow big shocker. Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller as a 2nd year player going down to a brutal 6 month injury didn't work, wow big shocker.

maybe you can't build a good team around LaMelo Ball, but I certainly wouldn't use this franchises god awful attempts at it as solid evidence of that.

He's managed to stay on the court for 50 games in only one of his five seasons. That's a serious problem in terms of continuity and team chemistry. The Pelicans had a lot more talent than the Hornets but Zion's availability issues crippled that franchise on an annual basis.

yeah i mean, obviously itd be nice if he played more games. it'd also be nice if he had a team "built around him" like SGA that could win 55 games without him. i dunno, id take either one. thats why i don't really like the phrase. the Hornets need a lot more talent than they have before stressing out about optimal building lol. trading LaMelo just to do it wouldn't address that, the return would have to be substantial

i mean the Cavs went 9-2 without Donovan Mitchell, Hornets went 3-32 without LaMelo, but I'm guessing Donovan Mitchell somehow this awesome guy to build around and LaMelo is horrible. i dunno, its a silly way to think. get good players

[ChettheJet]

He's managed to stay on the court for 50 games in only one of his five seasons. That's a serious problem in terms of continuity and team chemistry. The Pelicans had a lot more talent than the Hornets but Zion's availability issues crippled that franchise on an annual basis.

That's the problem getting value back for him, same as it is with Zion and any number of often injured star players.

Find the average number of games a guy plays over 3, 4, 5, seasons and see what percentage that comes down to of 82 games and ask yourself, how many of those games he misses can he hope to win? Is the injured star going to raise the winning percentage when he does play enough to offset it when he doesn't?

[MasterIchiro]

Entertainment value is a thing for a small market team that isn't a premiere destination for free agents, so that limits trade possibilities for established players who sell tickets. The risk is that they bolt at the end of their contract.

Hornets secured LaMelo 5 years on a rookie supermax. He was leading vote getter for guards in the conference.

He was starting PG for a 43 win team early in his rookie scale contract. So where is the question? Do you not follow the team and just throw **** at the wall hoping people don't smell BS?

These past 3 years have seen a roster continuously decimated by injury, including our All-Star PG who is a highlight reel.

So, sure, all the medical doctors in the building will want to price him like damaged goods showcased at a pawn shop.

But he's well beyond that value to the Hornets so we are definitely not listening to that ****.

Nurkic + J. Green = Charlotte's next wave of contracts on the move. Nobody wants them? No ****. They do want draft capital though. And we have a surplus including a top-2 protected Mavs pick in 2027 with Irving stale on the shelf and Luka back in shape in LA. Plus a 2027 lotto-protected Heat 1st that could be unprotected 2028. Those are your 10 seeds and that is the asset value we are listening on because we would be selling high, not dumping questionable merchandise low.

Get real people.

Nobody is feeling sorry for themselves.

[One_and_Done]

No good team wants him.