With the 2024-25 NBA season now officially in the books after the NBA crowned its new champion, the Oklahoma City Thunder, we head into the offseason. With the NBA Draft, trade season, and free agency approaching, this is an exciting time for NBA fans.
The first major domino to fall this offseason was Kevin Durant’s trade from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. ESPN insider Shams Charania appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” to discuss other trade rumors, and he was asked about the Charlotte Hornets’ plans for star point guard LaMelo Ball. Charania provided an enlightening answer and message to the Hornets.
Shams Charania Provides Update On LaMelo Ball Trade Rumors
Charania said on McAfee’s show that he has not heard anything concrete regarding the Hornets’ interest in trading Ball. However, he stressed that this is the period when he’d expect to start hearing rumors across the league. He wouldn’t discount the Hornets potentially listening to a trade offer for Ball after back-to-back poor seasons, with Charlotte still in the initial stages of a rebuild.
“Listen, if a team calls the Hornets and makes a massive offer, makes a real push for LaMelo Ball, if you’re the Hornets, you have to be all ears at that point. At the position they are with their franchise,” Charania said.
.@ShamsCharania tells @PatMcAfeeShow he has heard no LaMelo Ball trade rumors, but the Hornets should be open to anything
“If a team calls the Hornets and makes a massive offer … I mean if you’re the Hornets you have to be all ears at that point.” pic.twitter.com/FJ6it3URVk
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 23, 2025
He also explained their general manager likes to accrue draft picks in the initial stages of their rebuild: “What we’ve seen [Hornets GM] Jeff Peterson do there is accumulate a ton of assets. He’s got dozens of draft picks, and he’s been able to add players on flexible contracts. So, when you’re in the initial stages of a rebuild, that’s typically what you do.”
Ball, despite an injury-plagued start to his career, is a former All-Star and an exciting, smooth playmaker coming off a productive season (at least statistically) — 25.2 points and 7.4 assists. However, he had an inefficient shooting year, averaging a career-low 40.5% from the field. His true shooting percentage was also a career low of 53.6%, showing a real area for improvement.
Skill-wise, he has all the tools offensively to return to being an All-Star guard if he can stay healthy and improve his efficiency next year, potentially making the Hornets an intriguing team if they choose to keep him.
However, an interesting rumor has circulated regarding Ball; reportedly, according to local sports anchor Mike Lacett, at least one potential draft lottery prospect refused to work out for the Hornets because he didn’t want to play with Ball.
That report was verified by insider Zach Lowe, who reported agents saying, “I don’t know if I want to have my guy next to LaMelo Ball.”
“You have some agents who are like, ‘I don’t know if I want to have my guy next to LaMelo Ball. I just don’t know if that’s a good fit for us.’”
– Zach Lowe
(Via @ringer / h/t @HornetsReddit ) pic.twitter.com/Uich4sCvnW
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 20, 2025
Although it isn’t exactly clear what Ball has done to create that kind of sentiment, Chris Broussard, a co-host on Fox Sports’ “First Things First,” opined on Ball: “I don’t think he cares about winning.”
It’s hard to blame the losing seasons in Charlotte on him, since he’s been hurt for much of the last two seasons, but he needs to be more efficient on the court.
These reports, if true, could be damaging to the Hornets’ rebuilding plans. Therefore, it’s conceivable they may consider a trade for the right offer. Although nothing is reportedly happening on that front as it stands, many think it would be wise for their GM to consider it.
