There are a handful of NBA players whose names have often been mentioned in recent trade rumors, and one of them is Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball.
Will LaMelo Ball Be Dealt Before The NBA Trade Deadline?
Ball’s talent and age make him one of the league’s most intriguing potential trade chips, and if Charlotte decides to reset the timeline, several teams would line up immediately. With that possibility looming, here are three likely destinations that make the most sense if the Hornets choose to move their franchise point guard.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves have made deep playoff runs in recent seasons, but haven’t been able to make it over the championship hump. This season, it is becoming apparent that the point guard position is their greatest weakness, and there are rumors floating that the team could be open to adding one before February’s trade deadline.
LaMelo Ball would be an intriguing fit. He along with Anthony Edwards would combine to create one of the top backcourts in the West, if not in the NBA. Bringing in Ball would give them a high-ceiling playmaker to run the offense, perhaps easing the burden on Edwards in the backcourt. But would Minnesota have the necessary pieces that can get a deal done?
Memphis Grizzlies
LaMelo Ball could make sense as a target for the Memphis Grizzlies, especially if the team ends up trading Ja Morant. Memphis would immediately face a void at point guard, and that’s where Ball becomes attractive as a high-production replacement. The team has eased away from relying on Morant’s attacking abilities when he’s been available this season, which has him disgruntled, so it seems like Ball would be a better fit with his skills as a distributor.
It is unlikely that the Hornets would want to take Morant back in return in any potential trade, meaning that Ball would be a later replacement in this scenario. Depending on what pieces they could get in a Morant deal, they could have plenty of assets to offer Charlotte before the deadline.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers are a respectable 8-12 through the first 20 games of the NBA season, and have a balanced offensive attack led by Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe. But they lack star power and the overall talent to make any noise in the West, which makes bringing in someone like LaMelo Ball an interesting proposition. The money would work, given that current point guard Jrue Holiday makes just $5 million less than Ball. But it is unlikely that the Hornets would want to take back an aging point guard in exchange for a younger one, meaning a third team would likely have to be involved in this scenario.
Pairing Ball’s offense with Portland’s defensive-minded core (Holiday, Camara, Thybulle, Clingan, plus young wings) might address their issue of having a strong defense but at-times-stagnant offense.
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