Charlotte Hornets playmaker LaMelo Ball has an uncertain a future as any star.
There’s one side that believes Ball would be better off playing for a more competitive team or a larger market. The other side believes 2023 No. 2 pick Brandon Miller should takeover the team, with Ball being routed elsewhere. Then there’s the crowd that wants Ball to stay put, building alongside the franchise’s current core.
For now, the Hornets brass appears to be part of that third group. Ball does as well, for that matter.
Hornets Star LaMelo Ball Opens Up About Big Market Questions
“Just being here, I love it,” Ball says (h/t Ashley Stroehlein of SiriusXM Sports Radio NBA). “I mean, the fans are amazing. The living situation has been amazing. Everything’s been solid. So all that you need to leave and this and that . . . I mean, when you’re build something, it’s never just going to pop up and be the best thing.”
LaMelo Ball on being in Charlotte: “Just being here, I love it. I mean, the fans are amazing. The living situation has been amazing. Everything’s been solid. So all that you need to leave and this and that . . . I mean, when you’re build something, it’s never just going to pop up… pic.twitter.com/1urHIBeLCS
— Ashley Stroehlein (@ashstro) April 14, 2025
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“So you gotta stay here, work it out, do what you going to do and see what happens if you’re gonna try to make it work. You know what I’m saying?”
The Worst They’ve Been?
Ball’s comments come at a time when the Hornets are at one of the lowest points.
As the franchise has just a 1193-1602 record all-time and just 10 playoff appearances in 35 seasons, that may seem hyperbolic. Nevertheless, Charlotte has failed to reach the playoffs for nine straight seasons. Their 19-63 record was their worst since 2011-12 by win percentage.
With that in mind, due to the NBA lockout the Hornets only played 66 games in 2011-12, going 7-59. In terms of their last full season, the last time the franchise finished with under 20 wins was in 2004-05, when they went 18-64. That was the first season that they had played since the original Hornets franchise had been relocated to New Orleans (2003). At that time, Charlotte’s team was known as the Bobcats.
That being said, Ball’s commitment to a franchise that’s the worst they’ve ever been is admirable. Though he needs to continue maturing on and off the court, he’s one of the most skilled players in the league, regardless of position. Among point guards, it’s difficult to name many starters who are better than him. Most, if not all of them, are All-Stars.
If the Hornets are serious about being a playoff team, Ball’s availability and abilities could prove key.
2025 NBA Draft
The Hornets are currently projected to land the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Depending on how the ping pong balls fall, that could change. However, right now, they have the chance to draft one of the upcoming draft class’s most promising prospects.
Hopefully, Hornets executive vice president Jeff Peterson hones in on a player with more upside this time around. To be fair, 2024 No. 6 pick Tidjane Salaun could become one of the better players in his draft class down the line. Nonetheless, the Frenchman sounded like he was drafted as a culture-driver more than as a basketball player.
That’s all well and good, but winning basketball games requires more than good people.
VJ Edgecombe
Charlotte needs to focus on players that fit their team’s on-court needs. Right now, that means adding another high-level on-ball defender for their backcourt. To that point, the only guard they can rely on in that sense is Josh Green.
Of course, Hornets head coach Charles Lee should continue to implore Ball to put more effort in at the defensive end. With his length and basketball IQ, he can already create defensive events (that lead to easy baskets at the other end). Nevertheless, he can stand to be more assertive at the point-of-attack, cutting off his opponent’s air space. Still, there’s only so much energy any player can expend and Ball is already the team’s offensive engine.
With that in mind, the Hornets’ best option in the 2025 NBA Draft could be Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe. Similar to San Antonio Spurs rookie standout Stephon Castle, Edgecombe is a defensive force who can be part of the team’s connective tissue on offense. He’s an even better athlete than Castle though, his explosiveness of an exceedingly rare type.
If Charlotte looks to move Miles Bridges down the line, that could lead to Ball starting alongside Edgecombe and Green on the perimeter. This would then allow the 6-foot-9 Miller to start at power forward, which could be his best position in this era.
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