Charlotte’s front office may soon face a major decision involving its franchise point guard and its first-year coach.
ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins said on the “Road Trippin” podcast this week that Hornets guard LaMelo Ball and head coach Charles Lee “don’t see eye to eye,” adding that Ball’s recent drop in playing time is intentional rather than performance-based.
“The coach feels as if LaMelo is not his guy,” Perkins stated, suggesting Charlotte is weighing whether to trade the former All-Star or move on from the coach. Perkins described the rift as a “fact” and said the energy between the two is lacking.
Ball, selected No. 3 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, is in his sixth NBA season and is currently logging a career-low average in minutes per game. Perkins implied the reduced workload could be part of a larger plan ahead of the league’s trade deadline.
If the friction is as serious as Perkins indicates, the organization may have to choose between keeping its 23-year-old cornerstone or sticking with Lee, who was hired this offseason.
Source: Hoops Wire
