Following the Hornets' disappointing 2-13 road loss to the Indiana Pacers – their fourth straight loss that dropped Charlotte to 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 4-11 record – star guard LaMelo Ball has become increasingly disillusioned with the organization and is open to a trade with the franchise, multiple league sources told Yahoo Sports.
On Wednesday night, the former All-Star was benched for the final 4:32 of regulation in a 127-119 loss, finishing with 18 points on just 5-of-21 shooting and six turnovers in 27 minutes.
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Ball's efficiency took a nosedive in his sixth season as a Hornet, as he hit career lows in field goal percentage (.385) and three-point percentage (.298). Ball is still an elite playmaker, averaging 9.6 assists, and Charlotte is clearly a better team with Ball than without him: 17.3 points better per 100 possessions with him on the court, according to Cleaning the Glass.
To say it was a rough start in Charlotte would be an understatement. Head coach Charles Lee attempted to implement a smarter offensive system, with more ball and player movement, and expanding the capabilities of Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges – all while developing rookie Con Knuppel – in a long-range offense. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Hornets rank just 19th in offensive efficiency (albeit down 10th from the 2024-25 season). But Charlotte still plays at a slow pace, just 20th in tempo and 21st in half-court efficiency, despite Ball's constant push to pick up the pace.
League sources say the front office has become increasingly hesitant about committing to Ball as a long-term starter, has become disillusioned with the 24-year-old and is open to moving him. Ball has played in just nine games this season due to a right ankle injury. Despite Charlotte's slow start, there were a few bright spots, most notably impressive early performances from rookies Knuppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner.
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If both sides decide to explore the trade market in the near future, Ball is still young enough to warrant intrigue around the league, but his albatross price could give rival front offices pause. Ball, who will make $37.9 million this season, has more than $130 million left over the next three years after the 2025-26 campaign – in addition to a lengthy injury history and rumors about his behavior on the court.
