In a report by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, it was revealed that All-Star PG LaMelo Ball may be unhappy in Charlotte and wants to be in a winning situation. Scotto speculated that Ball not making the All-Star team despite his fantastic numbers, as well as the Hornets' 14-47 record, has affected him. Given that the Hornets were willing to trade 23-year-old Mark Williams, a very good player despite his injury concerns, it’s not unreasonable that newly hired Hornets GM and former Nets assistant GM Jeff Petersen may want to clean house.
Given this information, would it be possible for the Nets to swoop in and trade for Ball this offseason? It is difficult to say. It makes little sense for the Hornets to be willing to trade their franchise player unless they do not believe he is able to stay healthy. Since getting drafted #3 overall in the 2020 draft, Ball has played 223 games across five seasons, averaging 44.6 games played per season. Not only is he injury-prone, but he’s also making rookie max money. After this season, he is owed $168.6M over the next four seasons, in addition to a 15% trade bonus if he were to get moved. Financially, it’s a big risk to have someone making 22-25% of the league’s salary cap when they struggle to stay on the court, although it is a great contract if he can stay healthy.
Despite Ball’s injury concerns, there is no denying that he’s a top-25 player in the NBA when he is healthy. In the 39 games he’s played this season, Ball has averaged 26.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7 assists on 54% TS. While his efficiency is below the league’s 58% TS, that is more than likely because he often has to carry the Hornets' offense when he’s on the floor—a fixable problem under a better system. If he were to be traded to the Nets, Ball would flourish under Jordi’s motion offense as the primary ball handler, similar to how former Nets PG Dennis Schröder put up career numbers when he was on the Nets.
As of March 7th, 2025, the Nets have the 7th-best lottery odds in the NBA. If the Nets do not move up to #2 or #3 in the draft and acquire Rutgers PG Dylan Harper, then the Nets should consider trading for Ball if he comes at a discounted price. If Brooklyn can obtain the former All-Star for 2-3 firsts in addition to salary filler, then the risk on Ball’s health may be worth taking. If the Hornets have a high asking price for their All-Star PG, then it’s best for the Nets to stay away and either seek out a different All-Star via trade or tank in 2026 to acquire Darryn Petersen or AJ Dybantsa.
Comentarios