Hornets Predicted to Keep Onto LaMelo Ball Past Trade Deadline

The NBA trade deadline is quietly approaching. Teams are starting to make moves, knowing that they are slowly running out of time to change their squads for the 2025⁠–⁠26 season. 

Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report predicted “What Every NBA Team Would Do If the Trade Deadline Was Today,” and his Hornets prediction shouldn’t surprise anyone. 

"LaMelo Ball's ability to play a major role on a winner remains a question mark, which is precisely why the Charlotte Hornets shouldn't be eager to move him at the 2026 deadline.

That's not to say Charlotte should feel certain about Ball as a cornerstone. His defense may never be up to snuff, his shot selection might never belong on a winner, and Kon Knueppel might already be a better culture-defining prospect. At the same time, the Hornets still don't have a firm sense of how well the whole operation might work with Ball alongside their other top options."

Hughes is probably right on this one. The Hornets shouldn’t be in a hurry to get rid of Ball. Right now, they have at least three very intriguing young players, and they should at least see how this season plays out to see how well they can all work together. 

Both Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball have missed chunks of this season. The Hornets need a bigger sample size of them and Kon Knueppel in the lineup. Once they determine the ceiling of that core, they can start considering trading Ball. Until then, they should continue to see how the pieces fit together. 

So, for now, the Hornets shouldn’t look to make any huge splashes at this trade deadline. That is, of course, unless someone makes a huge offer for Ball. In that case, they should ship LaMelo out to the highest bidder.