The Charlotte Hornets have been linked to Cleveland Cavaliers veteran guard Lonzo Ball ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, according to league insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
Hornets, Cavs Discussing Lonzo Ball Trade
If the Hornets are able to acquire Lonzo, he would be reunited with his younger brother, LaMelo Ball, who has been with Charlotte since the organization selected him third overall in the 2020 draft.
According to Stein and Fischer, a “preliminary conversation” has taken place between the Cavaliers and Hornets regarding a potential trade of Ball to Charlotte in exchange for second-round draft picks.
Per Stein and Fischer, the Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, and Utah Jazz are among the teams attempting to facilitate multi-team trades and take back salary in order to obtain draft picks.
The Cavaliers have already made one trade this week, sending forward De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings for guards Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis.
Cleveland is expected to move Ball in the coming days now that Schroder and Ellis have joined Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland in the starting backcourt.
Cavaliers Acquired Ball From Bulls
Lonzo Ball, 28, is in the midst of his seventh NBA season and his first with the Cavs after Cleveland acquired him in an offseason trade with the Chicago Bulls.
Ball, who was selected No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 draft, was dealt to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the Anthony Davis trade after just two seasons with L.A.
However, Ball’s career took a turn for the worse with the Bulls.
Ball missed the entire 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons due to a left knee injury, but he returned to appear in 35 games (14 starts) for Chicago last season.
In October 2024, Ball also suffered a sprain in his right wrist.
Ball Could Become A Free Agent This Summer
Through 35 appearances (three starts) this campaign, Ball is averaging 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 20.8 minutes per game while shooting just 30.1% from the field and 27.2% from 3-point territory.
According to Basketball Reference, if the UCLA product appears in one more contest, it will mark his most games played in a single campaign since the 2020-21 season.
Ball had been limited to fewer games following multiple knee surgeries. He missed significant playing time after receiving a meniscus and cartilage transplant in his left knee in March 2023.
Per Spotrac, Ball has a $10 million club option in his two-year contract for next season. He could become a free agent during the offseason if that option is declined.
His team option deadline is June 29.
The post Hornets Trade Rumors: Lonzo Ball Could Be Reunited With LaMelo appeared first on Sportscasting | Pure Sports.