Charlotte Hornets To Bring Ball Off The Bench

One cannot blame the Charlotte Hornets coaching staff for trying something different in an effort to find success. For the first time since his rookie season in 2021, LaMelo Ball came off the bench, and not for punitive reasons, replaced in the starting lineup by veteran Collin Sexton. While it may seem odd for the franchise's cornerstone to be demoted, there was actually a method to this madness.

The Hornets are getting creative with Ball's workload. The team is trying to maximize his availability during back-to-backs by having him start one game and come off the bench in the other, allowing him to be fresher for fourth-quarter minutes. In an era of load management, when teams are more likely to sit their star players in back-to-back games, the Hornets are desperate to keep their injury-prone guard healthy and effective as they try to piece together some more victories. 

Ball's chronic ankle issues have limited him to just 28 of the team's first 38 games this season, and his various injuries have seen him play 47 or fewer games in the past three seasons. When healthy, he's still putting up solid numbers at 20 points and 7.9 assists per game, but his shooting has been inconsistent. Head coach Charles Lee praised Ball's willingness to accept the new role, calling it "another area of his leadership, of his selflessness." In his first game off the bench Thursday, Ball actually exploded for 33 points, though Charlotte still lost to Indiana.

The move has also led many to buy into various trade rumors as the season heads into the February trade deadline. Reports emerged in November that Ball had grown frustrated with the organization and was open to a trade, though he quickly denied it on social media with a clown emoji. The bigger question is whether Charlotte's ready to move on and turn the team over to Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. 

The reality is, Ball's trade value is complicated. He's undeniably talented, but concerns about his durability, shot selection, and lack of playoff experience give both the Hornets and any potential trade partners concern. He's appeared in just 114 games since the beginning of the 2022–23 campaign. Teams like Sacramento, Minnesota, and New Orleans have been mentioned as potential landing spots, but any return Charlotte gets might disappoint fans expecting a blockbuster haul.

Ironically, the bench role, whether it is a permanent position or just during back-to-back games, could actually help Ball's trade value if it keeps him healthy and productive down the stretch. Or it could be Charlotte's way of preserving their most marketable asset while they figure out their next move.