If the Charlotte Hornets star is traded this summer, the Golden State Warriors are one of the front-runners to acquire LaMelo Ball.
The Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and the Warriors are all +750 co-favorites to be Ball’s next team, according to Bovada. With odds of +1100, the Toronto Raptors are behind them.
As the Charlotte Hornets prepare to miss the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype wrote on March 3 that Ball is the next rising talent to watch in the trade market this summer. When Ball was still a freshman at Chino Hills in the 2016–16 season, they made their final participation in the playoffs.
“Following the Luka Doncic trade, NBA executives around the league have expanded their horizons on which potential stars could be next to change teams. The availability of Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is one of the stars several executives who spoke with HoopsHype will be monitoring on the trade market this summer,” Scotto wrote.
Warriors Passed Up on LaMelo Ball for Draft Bust
The Warriors choose center James Wiseman at No. 2 in the 2020 NBA draft, passing up on Ball. They regret their choice because the 6-foot-11 center ended up being a draft flop.
After just one and a half seasons with them, Wiseman was traded. After being dealt from Indiana last month, Wiseman was waived by the Raptors, leaving him out of the league.
Ball, however, dominated the All-Star voting this season and was named an All-Star in the 2021–22 campaign. Sadly, he did not receive enough votes from coaches and peers to earn a spot on the All-Star team for the second time.
For the 14-46 Hornets, who lost Ball’s running mate Brandon Miller to a season-ending wrist injury in January, the 23-year-old fan favorite is scooping up 1.2 steals, dishing out 7.0 assists, and averaging career-highs in points (26.1) and rebounds (5.2).
LaMelo Ball as Steph Curry’s Understudy?
In the Hornets’ 34-minute loss to the Warriors on Monday, March 3, Ball shot 8-of-21 from the field and 4-9 from three-point range while dishing out 25 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and one block.
Stephen Curry, a standout for the Warriors, congratulated Ball after the victory and saw similarities between their career paths.
“[Ball] is tough,” Curry told reporters. “He’s unorthodox the way he gets to his jumper, his space creation. He just has his style, and he’s very comfortable doing it. He can have huge games because he’s confident in himself. Hopefully, he can stay healthy. His availability is everything. I went through it my first three years. He’s been going through it, so hopefully, he can turn the corner and get his body right so that he can be out here and then take that next step.”
Similar to Curry, Ball has been constrained by ankle problems throughout his initial seasons in the NBA. Prior to this season, the Hornets standout point guard had only participated in 48 games overall over the previous two seasons.
Since the Warriors’ longtime franchise star turns 37 on March 14, he could be Curry’s backup if the team trades for him.
Ball is now in the first year of his rookie extension, which is worth $203.9 million over five years. Next season, he is expected to earn $37.9 million.
