Hornets Still Betting on LaMelo Ball, But for How Long?

They’ve been accumulating assets for the better part of five years now. So far, that’s gotten them little more than frustration, injuries and a seat at the lottery table. Eventually, they’ll have to start winning, or start over — again.

That brings us to LaMelo Ball.

Even after another injury-riddled, loss-heavy season, the Hornets maintain that Ball is not on the trade block. And Ball, for his part, hasn’t expressed a desire to leave. Not publicly, not even in passing.

So the question isn’t really if Ball gets moved. It’s when the Hornets finally start building something meaningful around him. Or if they do at all.

A similar showing in 2025-26 — another season of ankle sprains, chemistry issues, and 50-plus losses — probably wouldn’t change things either. The current front office seems content to ride this out with Ball as the centerpiece.

Privately, the Hornets have given Ball a directive: get stronger, stay healthy, and lead. If he can do that — and that’s a big “if” given the past two seasons — there’s reason to believe Charlotte can finally turn the corner.

On paper, the core is solid: Ball, Brandon Miller, a healthy Mark Williams, and a high draft pick. Even if Charlotte falls in the lottery — a nightmare scenario that’s become oddly routine — the Hornets are still positioned to add a real contributor.

That, and good health, could finally make the rebuild feel like a build. And in that case, the questions about Ball’s future go away.

But if it doesn’t work?

Even then, this doesn’t feel like a make-or-break year for Ball. He’s one of the rare stars who actually wants to stay in Charlotte. That alone probably extends the leash.

It’s worth noting that the Hornets aren’t operating like a team desperate to win now. At the trade deadline, they nearly moved Williams — one of Ball’s better teammates — in a deal that would have netted them Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht and a 2031 first-round pick.

The plan here is clearly long-term. The patience, so far, has been endless.

How much longer it lasts might depend on Ball — and how long he can stay on the floor.