In addition to teams like Sacramento, Dallas and the LA Clippers whose needs at that position have been a daily talking point, league sources say Charlotte has been searching for veteran ball handlers to back up LaMelo Ball.
Source: Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com
Source: Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Rod Boone @rodboone
Sat down for a convo with Kon Knueppel yesterday.
We chatted about how he’s going to try to help change national conversation around the #Hornets, playing alongside LaMelo and Brandon Miller, how going against Cooper Flagg made him better and more:
charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlot… – 10:33 AM
Sat down for a convo with Kon Knueppel yesterday.
We chatted about how he’s going to try to help change national conversation around the #Hornets, playing alongside LaMelo and Brandon Miller, how going against Cooper Flagg made him better and more:
charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlot… – 10:33 AM
Rod Boone @rodboone
Ace Bailey on #Hornets in May: “B. Miller my dog, that would be good. I feel like me and B. Miller do the same thing. So, guarding two of the same people on the court is hard to guard. So, B. Miller, that’d be tough. And LaMelo. His activity, his shot creation, just all of it.” – 5:58 PM
Ace Bailey on #Hornets in May: “B. Miller my dog, that would be good. I feel like me and B. Miller do the same thing. So, guarding two of the same people on the court is hard to guard. So, B. Miller, that’d be tough. And LaMelo. His activity, his shot creation, just all of it.” – 5:58 PM
More on this storyline
The Charlotte Hornets have limited star power, and LaMelo Ball is one of the few who can be considered among the NBA elites. As good as LaMelo is, though, his influence is described as questionable by scouts and agents across the league. According to NBA insider Zach Lowe, some agents would rather their players stay away from LaMelo and out of Charlotte. “That Charlotte/Utah double at four-five, you have agents looking who look at those situations wildly differently,” said Lowe on his podcast. “You have some agents who are like, ‘I don’t know if I want to have my guy next to LaMelo Ball. I just don’t know if that’s a good fit for us.’ And yet, new ownership, new front office, that franchise is kind of doing everything else right.” -via Yahoo! Sports / June 23, 2025
Charania said on McAfee’s show that he has not heard anything concrete regarding the Hornets’ interest in trading Ball. However, he stressed that this is the period when he’d expect to start hearing rumors across the league. He wouldn’t discount the Hornets potentially listening to a trade offer for Ball after back-to-back poor seasons, with Charlotte still in the initial stages of a rebuild. “Listen, if a team calls the Hornets and makes a massive offer, makes a real push for LaMelo Ball, if you’re the Hornets, you have to be all ears at that point. At the position they are with their franchise,” Charania said. -via Pro Football Network / June 23, 2025
Now that a majority share of the Lakers is going to be sold by the Buss family to Mark Walter, the elder Ball wants his three sons — Lonzo, LaMelo and LiAngelo — to play for the Purple and Gold and for Magic Johnson to return to the organization. “More news!” LaVar said. “The Lakers just sold for $10 billion. Uh oh. Hey, [Los Angeles] Clippers, you better get my boys or Lakers if you put Magic back in line. Let Magic run this thing so we go get these championships, ’cause he know what to do. Magic, this for you. Since them Lakers is ran by a new group, shoot. A new time, new era. Go get the Ball boys. Hey, it’s not even about a bidding war. First come, first serve. “Whoever wants them championships, better get the Ball boys. Trust me when I tell you. But Magic, if you in line, I’m down with you, dawg. Holler at your boy.” -via Yahoo! Sports / June 21, 2025