On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
LaMelo Ball has been one of the few bright spots for the Charlotte Hornets in recent seasons but ESPN's Bobby Marks thinks there is a chance he gets moved this offseason. With the Hornets now under new ownership, Marks believes a big decision needs to be made this summer regarding Ball.
"When Ball signed a five-year, $204 million extension in 2023, the intention was that he would be the face of the franchise. But that new contract was under the previous ownership and management group.
"Now with a full year to evaluate, general manager Jeff Peterson will need to decide if Ball is a foundational player or someone they should explore moving for significant draft compensation and players. Ball has played like an All-Star but is on pace to appear in fewer than 50 games for a third straight season."
We have already seen one team trade away the face of the franchise this year over some future injury concerns. That's, of course, Luka Doncic, with the Dallas Mavericks trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavericks' decision to trade Doncic made no sense whatsoever, though, but that would not be the case here.
As good as Ball is, with averages of 27.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game in 2024-25, he isn't a generational talent like Doncic. Also unlike the Slovenian, the one-time All-Star actually has a bit of an injury history.
Ball played just 36 games in 2022-23 and then only 22 in 2023-24. The 23-year-old has featured in 33 out of 51 games for the Hornets this season and expect him to miss some more time the rest of the way. He has played more than 60 games just once in his career and you wouldn't fancy his chances of accomplishing that feat this time around either.
What's also different here compared to the Doncic situation is that the Hornets are not even close to competing for a title. They are currently 13-38 on the season and are going nowhere.
In fact, the Hornets haven't even made the playoffs since drafting Ball with the third pick of the 2020 NBA Draft. Will he lead them to the postseason at some point years down the road? Sure, but you're unlikely to ever be a serious title contender with him as the main man.
So, the Hornets should not be against the idea of moving Ball, but they should only do so for a great return. We're talking multiple first-round picks along with quality role players or a borderline star, who can then be flipped for more assets. That's a sizeable haul, but he is a terrific young player and would be a great sidekick for a superstar.
A team like the Orlando Magic, for example, certainly could do with having an electric point guard like Ball on their roster. A trio of him, Paolo Banchero, and Franz Wagner will make some noise in the East and could make the Magic a contender depending on how they develop.
A Ball trade won't be happening anytime soon, of course, as the deadline has passed. The man himself would be focusing on getting back on the court, as he has been ruled out for the Hornets' clash with the Magic at Kia Center on Wednesday at 7 PM ET due to right ankle soreness.
More must-reads:
- Celtics' sale comes with significant and surprising twists
- Portland Trail Blazers to be sold to Hurricanes owner and pickleball enthusiast
- The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
The 'Most 15-assist games in NBA history' quiz
Happy 66th birthday to NBA Hall of Famer and Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson! Johnson is a 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA selection, three-time NBA and NBA Finals MVP, four-time assist champion, and five time NBA champion. He spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and was also part of the famous 1992 Olympic Dream Team that dominated the Summer Games in Barcelona. Since his retirement Johnson has remained in the sporting world. He’s spent time in the front office of the Lakers as well as purchasing stakes in MLB’s Los Angles Dodgers and the NFL’s Washington Commanders. Which brings us to today’s quiz. There have been 34 players in NBA history to rack up 15 assists in at least 25 career games. How many of those players can you name in five minutes? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Bears make big decision amid concerning Caleb Williams reports
Second-year Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and other starters were spectators for Chicago's preseason opener versus the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, first-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson confirmed things will be different when his club hosts the Buffalo Bills for an exhibition matchup this coming Sunday evening. "Everyone's going to play," Johnson said, as shared by Courtney Cronin of ESPN. Johnson added that how many snaps Williams will take versus the Bills is "to be determined." The Bears will first host the Bills for a joint practice on Friday. Johnson came to this decision following multiple reports detailing the supposed struggles that Williams has endured throughout training camp. Most recently, Monday’s practice was allegedly "a low point for" Chicago's first-team offense and featured "Williams and receiver Rome Odunze both looking frustrated" after some failed connections. "I've been pretty consistent with the thought of reps, reps, reps are the most important thing to get [Williams] up to speed," Johnson explained. "And by the plan that we had a week ago, we were able to get him probably somewhere between 80 and 100 more reps than we would've been able to do had he played in the game. This week, it's a different schedule. Different length of time in terms of in between games and all that. And so, our plan right now is the guys that sat out last week, they will be playing this week." Those running the Bears hope that the hiring of Johnson, an advertised offensive guru, will help Williams become a top-tier quarterback after the 23-year-old won only five of 17 starts during his rookie season. However, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic is among those who have mentioned that Williams has been responsible for a noteworthy number of inaccurate passes this summer. "I think the trust that we've been talking about from the get-go, that's really where that comes into play," Johnson added about risking the health of his starters by playing them against Buffalo. "We haven't been here with this group as a coaching staff. That trust has been earning, and we've been developing that amongst each other. It's not a one-way street. It goes both ways. And so I think that's just another step in the progression, you know?" The Bears will wrap up the preseason with a game at the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 22. It's unclear if Williams or other Chicago starters will see any action that Friday night.
Browns' Shedeur Sanders could be losing valuable opportunity after injury update
Just when it seemed everything was going right for Shedeur Sanders, the Cleveland Browns' rookie quarterback caught an unlucky break on Wednesday. The 23-year-old QB was sidelined during Wednesday's joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles after suffering an oblique injury. Per Kelsey Russo of the team website, the 2025 fifth-round pick won't practice Thursday and is considered day-to-day. He is deemed unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason game against Philadelphia, scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Before Wednesday's practice, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed rookie QB Dillon Gabriel will start against Philadelphia as long as he's healthy enough to play. The 2025 third-rounder missed Cleveland's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers because of a hamstring issue. However, Stefanski previously said Sanders would get more reps this week after a solid preseason debut. The former Colorado Buffaloes star received the start in the 30-10 win over Carolina, going 14-of-23 passing for 138 yards and two touchdown passes. Not playing against Philadelphia could disrupt Sanders' momentum. More importantly, it may eliminate another opportunity for him to overtake Gabriel in Cleveland's four-way QB competition. Sanders is listed as the Browns QB4 behind Gabriel, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco on the team's unofficial depth chart. Despite questions about Gabriel's size (5-foot-11, 205 pounds), the coaching staff seems to favor him over Sanders. Earlier this offseason, Gabriel's processing speed reportedly impressed Browns coaches, giving him an edge over Sanders. The former Oregon Ducks star also received reps with the first-team offense during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, while his fellow rookie didn't. If Gabriel plays well against the Eagles, that would continue to affirm the coaching staff's confidence in the 24-year-old QB. Neither Sanders nor Gabriel is expected to be the Week 1 starter for the Browns. It's likely going to be Flacco, who helped Cleveland make the playoffs in 2023 when he went 4-1 during a late-season stretch. Still, another solid preseason showing could help Sanders position himself to replace 40-year-old Flacco in the future. With the setback, it may take more time to climb the depth chart.
Three teams that should take a flier on Odell Beckham Jr. for the 2025 season
Former New York Giants superstar and current free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. emerged in the headlines on Tuesday afternoon. The 32-year-old took to X (formerly Twitter) to shut down a fake report that he was retiring from the NFL. Beckham spent the 2024 season with the Miami Dolphins in a very limited role, recording just nine receptions for 55 yards in nine games. However, he was a solid contributor as a Baltimore Raven the year prior, showing that he can still provide some production at this point in his career. Given that OBJ has no interest in calling it quits just yet, let’s look at three teams that should take a shot on the three-time Pro Bowler to see how much juice he’s got left in him. New York Giants How about a reunion in the Big Apple? It would only be fitting for Beckham to finish his career in the place where it all started. Superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers runs the show on offense, but after that, there are plenty of question marks. Wide receivers Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton slot in as solid options behind Nabers, but it would not hurt to add a veteran like Beckham into the mix. He knows what it's like playing in such a big market and could mentor the Giants' young offensive weapons while providing some depth production when called upon. Las Vegas Raiders There may not be a team with more of a need at the wide receiver position than the Las Vegas Raiders. The targets are understandably funneled to superstar tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, but they need help beyond those two. Third-year wide receiver Tre Tucker and rookie wideouts Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. are next in line. While those three may play big roles right from the start, the Raiders could certainly use another experienced pass-catcher, and Beckham is a nice option to fill that role. Perhaps he even shows himself to be worthy of the WR2 spot. Buffalo Bills The third team that could be in play for Beckham is the Buffalo Bills. With Josh Allen in his prime, they need to continue putting weapons around him whenever possible. Second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman and free-agent signing Joshua Palmer are atop the depth chart in Buffalo, while reliable wideout Khalil Shakir is nicked up with an ankle injury. Longtime Carolina Panthers receiver Curtis Samuel also remains in the mix but is dealing with a hamstring ailment and has had injury woes in the past. Outside of Shakir, it's hard to know what you're going to get from the rest of the position group. Beckham will likely want to join a contender or somewhere he can play more of a factor than he did with the Dolphins in 2024-25, so keep an eye on the Bills.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
