Hornets’ LaMelo Ball Reportedly Willing to Leave Charlotte
lamelo-ball-hornets-open-to-trade-2025
Multiple league sources told Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko that guard LaMelo Ball is open to a trade after being benched late in the Charlotte Hornets’ 113-106 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, November 19. Ball did not play during the final 4:32 of the fourth quarter.
The Pacers entered the matchup with a 1-13 record and secured just their second win of the season, while the Hornets fell to 4-11 after dropping their fourth straight game. Ball finished with 18 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and two steals in 27 minutes but shot 5-for-21 from the field and committed six turnovers.
Later Thursday afternoon, Ball appeared to respond to the report by posting a clown-face emoji on X (formerly Twitter).
Frustration reportedly runs both ways. According to Iko, Charlotte’s front office has grown skeptical of Ball’s long-term fit and is also willing to explore trade scenarios.
The 6’7″ point guard was the No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft, won Rookie of the Year in 2021 and earned his first All-Star selection in 2022. Persistent ankle problems have limited him to 105 of 246 regular-season games over the three seasons preceding 2025-26, and he has already missed six contests this year with a right ankle impingement. Charlotte’s net ratings have been markedly better when he is on the floor.
One sticking point, sources said, is Ball’s preference for an up-tempo style; the Hornets rank 20th in the NBA in pace.
If placed on the market, Ball’s value could be complicated by his injury history, questions about his on-court demeanor and the four-year maximum contract that still owes him roughly $168.7 million.
Source: Hoops Rumors
