LaMelephant: The LaMelo Ball Thread (#2)

[Bassman]

Article on players hurting their value ahead of the trade deadline. Posting here because yours truly is on the list. Note the comment from an NBA executive:

“Just this campaign, an anonymous executive labeled Ball as the most unserious player in the league:
Fair or not, the Hornets haven’t sniffed a playoff appearance in the Ball era, one that might not last much longer, especially after Charlotte found a true potential building block in young sharpshooter Kon Knueppel.”

https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2026/01/09/eight-nba-players-hurting-trade-value-ahead-2025-26-trade-deadline/88102348007/

So we are recycling anonymous, months old quotes now?

Just posting the latest article from HoopsHype. I have no agenda. I’ve stated my concerns about Melo, and also how I hope/wish he would refine his game to MAXIMIZE his ability to excel. But people who are professionals working within the NBA have their observations, and evaluations. They are the ones who see the gaps, the immaturity. As long as he’s healthy, is that enough? Is it just good to have a marvelous talent who makes highlight plays?

If the latest “report” is accurate, Hornets are not likely to take any action on LaMelo for this season…they will see how it plays out…but, they are open to trades for any players other than Miller or Kon…the two they will build around.

[JMAC3]

Hornets record without LaMelo 3-7
Hornets record with LaMelo 11-19

...Hornets worse without LaMelo.

I don't want to trade Melo if he's turned the corner on staying healthy, but I don't think the record argument, at least for this season, is particularly compelling to say we're materially better with him. 3/10 = 30%, and 11/30 = 36%, so 6% better. Based on that, assuming he'd play 82 games in a season, we'd win 5 more games with him compared to having him 0 games.

The record this year is worse without him, regardless. Whereas Memphis and Atlanta were clearly better without them.
.. but lifetime it is the same, Charlotte has always been better with LaMelo than without. Which to me indicates LaMelo isn't a losing player or the reason we lose games.

This year we are 6.7 pts better when LaMelo plays vs on the bench.
https://databallr.com/wowy/CHA/2026/2026/regular/high/wowy/1630163

That is the best number on the team among the regulars, again this indicates LaMelo is a positive impact player.

The Hawks were 9.8 pts worse with Trae on the court.
https://databallr.com/wowy/ATL/2026/2026/regular/high/wowy/1629027

Memphis is 8.8 pts worse with Ja on the court.
https://databallr.com/wowy/MEM/2026/2026/regular/high/wowy/1629630

The numbers don't match the narrative that people try to push.

[Bassman]

Is it good enough that the Hornets record without Melo is worse than with him? That’s certainly a plus compared to the other examples listed. I’m not saying he’s toxic or a net negative. However, I do not believe he is THE difference maker a simple statistic is posed to imply. Can he carry this team into playoff victories, and series victories, with his approach to the game? THAT is what NBA professionals are questioning when they say he is “the most unserious player in the league”.

[JMAC3]

That rules out a ton of really good players.
Franz Wagner, Scottie Barnes, Deni Avdija, Evan Mobley... their teams should all trade them because they haven't been able to carry their teams to playoff or series victories....

I will resign the convo because the target is always moving for why we should trade LaMelo. At a certain point it just seems like people don't like him as a person and there will always be an excuse to trade him no matter what the stats or outcomes say.

[wilson115]

What was Perk saying again?

Read on Twitter

[luciano-davidwesley]

What was Perk saying again?

Read on Twitter

Der dem Brandon Bridges, Miles Miller and Lemon Ball had a heckava game.

[JustBuzzin]

If this dude can just stay on the court.

No question he's still the best player on the team. He makes Kon/Miller go. The fit is very obvious with those 3.

If we somehow can get a legit big in the draft this team is going places.

[fatlever]

random plot chart of the day

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[JustBuzzin]

https://youtube.com/shorts/4ad8EgVxrhQ?si=t8gRuMSH5opA8R_i

[GiggitySmalls]

1 for 15 overall, and 0 for 10 from 3 in just 22 minutes against Cleveland. But hey hes the franchise or something derka derka derka blah blah blah...hes garbage.

Sent from my SM-S936U using RealGM mobile app

[Bassman]

I’m not sure if there is a team that would value LaMelo enough to deal for him. The giant problem has been injuries. Now, with a relatively healthy stretch of games, teams can see both the potential and the paradox. Melo can create absolute magic, almost a magician with his circus shots swishing from crazy angles, and no look stylistic passes demanding a second look. Melo can also crash to earth, looking like a street baller who got his chance to play with the pros, and blowing the audition. The one leggers don’t go in, shooting 5 seconds into the shot clock, errant foolish passes, whining to the refs while play is breaking back.

Can this guy ever grow up and lead an NBA team into playoff contention? If there is doubt, Hornets need to find a good trade if one is available. I doubt there is one. Most likely this season will play out however it does, and the question will linger into the next one.

[Chapelchilla]

Tank Commander

[JMAC3]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[Chapelchilla]

GP MIN FG% 3P% FT% REB AST BLK STL PF TO PTS
34 27.3 40.5 35.9 88.4 5.0 7.6 0.2 1.2 2.7 3.2 19.4

40% overall, 36% from 3

Pretty bad numbers for a max paid player. Hard to win with that kind of production from your highest paid player. Yeah, we are worse without him on the floor but almost every team in the league would be worse without their "leader" and highest paid player. If his money went to a more consistent, if not as flashy 30 million dollar PG and 10 million dollar back PG we would probably be better off overall. Add in the injury risk, decision making and his maturity Ball is not a great foundation to build around.

[JMAC3]

GP MIN FG% 3P% FT% REB AST BLK STL PF TO PTS
34 27.3 40.5 35.9 88.4 5.0 7.6 0.2 1.2 2.7 3.2 19.4

40% overall, 36% from 3

Pretty bad numbers for a max paid player. Hard to win with that kind of production from your highest paid player. Yeah, we are worse without him on the floor but almost every team in the league would be worse without their "leader" and highest paid player. If his money went to a more consistent, if not as flashy 30 million dollar PG and 10 million dollar back PG we would probably be better off overall. Add in the injury risk, decision making and his maturity Ball is not a great foundation to build around.

Yeah and trying to boil down what Melo means to the team into fg% is also a pretty bad way to look a things.
There are 100 other factors that show he is our best player, most important player etc..

Trying to pin the whole teams failures on one player is such a tired Hornets stick at this point. Maybe they should invest in players around him so that us getting blown out on National TV doesn't rely on LaMelo playing poorly, playing on a minutes restriction is the reason we lose.

Brandon, Kon, Moussa, Miles all were ass last night for majority of the game.

[fatlever]

one of these things is true
a) The front office has ordered the medical staff and the coaching staff significantly limit melo's Minutes to Ultimately improve draft position
b) Eight months after his last minor surgery almost two months after his tweak of that ankle, he is still on a minute's restriction set by the medical staff, in good faith, because they don't believe he can handle any more minutes without re aggravating the ankle. there's seemingly no end in sight of that in minutes restriction. The minute's restriction has not been lifted or reduced since he returned.

is there a 3rd option?

[JMAC3]

Giannis is playing 29 mpg.
Wemby 28.7 mpg.
Zion 28.8 mpg.
Ja 28 mpg.
LaMelo 27.3 mpg
Trae 28 mpg
Chet 29 mpg

Teams not running guys into the ground for 36 mpg when they are coming off multiple injuries isn't something Hornets are alone in doing. I would be willing to bet there is a lot more internal data and analytics going into these decisions internally within a billion dollar franchise then a bunch of guys discussing the team on a message board during lunch breaks.

People want the team to take proper precautions when dealing with players health, until they do it and then they want to scream about them not playing 35 mpg... but will be the first to do a 180 the moment that player is hurt and be mad with the way the injury was handled.

You just can't please most people.

LaMelo on pace to play 2nd most games in his career at 64 games and what do you know people are still going to complain. Shocker

[Liver_Pooty]

I dont mind the minutes restriction. I think its pretty obvious that is what they should be doing. Its the not starting and getting in a 10 point hole immediately. Maybe starting Collin instead of Sion can help. Even Kon after the game said it messes with the rhythm of the unit to have him come off the bench.

[JMAC3]

Yeah I think in theory maybe it worked, however we have tried it 3 times and everytime been a massive failure. Seems like enough data to tell you that maybe try to find the next strategy. Especially since you are breaking apart the lineup that analytics are raving about in Melo, Kon, Miller, Miles and Moussa.

[SWedd523]

one of these things is true
a) The front office has ordered the medical staff and the coaching staff significantly limit melo's Minutes to Ultimately improve draft position
b) Eight months after his last minor surgery almost two months after his tweak of that ankle, he is still on a minute's restriction set by the medical staff, in good faith, because they don't believe he can handle any more minutes without re aggravating the ankle. there's seemingly no end in sight of that in minutes restriction. The minute's restriction has not been lifted or reduced since he returned.

is there a 3rd option?

3rd option is the most likely to me:

This is the reality for the rest of his career. Minutes restrictions will always be a thing because he just cannot hold up to the grind.