Report: Hornets have no interest in trading LaMelo Ball

March 14, 2025

According to NBA insiders Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the Charlotte Hornets have no interest in trading point guard LaMelo Ball.

Ball will make $37,958,760 next season. He signed a five-year, $203 million extension with the Hornets in 2023.

“That raises the obvious question: What about LaMelo Ball? Sources said the Hornets have no interest in moving on from their star guard,” Bontemps and Windhorst wrote. “But setting aside the questions about Mark Williams moving forward after the rescinded trade, the Hornets have Brandon Miller, their upcoming lottery pick and this year’s lottery selection, Tidjane Salaun, all as building blocks moving forward. Ball, meanwhile, is already on his second contract. That alone makes it an interesting situation to monitor moving forward. ‘LaMelo is the question there,’ the scout said.”

Ball is averaging 25.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists this season while shooting 40.0% from the field, 33.0% from beyond the arc and 83.6% from the free-throw line. He’s played in 42 games.

Charlotte drafted Ball with the third pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Ball, who turns 24 in August, has career averages of 21.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.4 assists.

Ball made the 2022 All-Star team. He also won the 2021 Rookie of the Year Award.

NBA executives are monitoring Ball’s future with the Hornets, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

“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. “Ball was one of several notable All-Star snubs despite leading East guards in fan voting for the starter ballot and was fourth in scoring when the All-Star reserves were announced. Due to games missed, Ball won’t be eligible for an All-NBA selection either. At the same time, Charlotte will extend its playoff drought, which started during the 2016-17 season. Meanwhile, all five years of Ball’s career will result in lottery finishes during that span.”