‘Blockbuster’ Trade Proposal Sends Hornets’ LaMelo Ball To Magic

One NBA analyst proposed that the Orlando Magic acquire LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets. 

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Magic and Hornets:

Orlando Magic Receive: PG LaMelo Ball

Charlotte Hornets Receive: G Anthony Black, F/C Wendell Carter Jr., G Cole Anthony, 2025 first-round pick, 2025 first-round pick (via Denver Nuggets, top-five protected)

The Hornets missed the playoffs again in 2024, while the Magic lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round in seven games. 

“Ball is a magician with the rock, regularly making highlight-reel passes that leave defenders helpless,” Swartz wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “The soon-to-be 23-year-old averaged 23.9 points, 8.0 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while shooting (and making) threes at a high volume, which is precisely what this Orlando roster needs.

“A starting five of Ball, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Jonathan Isaac would be extremely well-balanced on both sides of the ball and would have only one member (KCP) over the age of 26. If Ball suffers further ankle injuries, Jalen Suggs could resume his starting duties off a bench that would still feature Jett Howard, Moe Wagner, Gary Harris, Goga Bitadze and Tristan Da Silva.”

Ball only played in 22 games this past season due to a right ankle injury. He averaged 23.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.2 blocks while shooting 43.3% from the field, 35.5% from beyond the arc and 86.5% from the free-throw line. 

The Hornets drafted Ball with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Ball has career averages of 20.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.3 blocks. He won the 2020-21 Rookie of the Year Award and made the 2022 All-Star team.

Ball signed a five-year, $204 million extension with the Hornets last summer. He will make $35.3 million next season. 

The Magic would have a “Big 4” of Ball, Caldwell-Pope, Wagner and Banchero if Orlando’s front office figured out a way to acquire Ball from Charlotte.