For much of NBA history, the idea of trading a star in his rookie contract would be unthinkable. 

It’s still extremely unlikely. On the other hand, the league is trending towards the possibility. These days, players change teams more than ever before. 

That’s largely due to the player empowerment era. If a player is unhappy on a team, he’s likely to force his way out of town.

For that reason, teams look to move players quickly to get ahead of the problem. 

With that in mind, the Charlotte Hornets probably won’t trade LaMelo Ball this summer. It’s unlikely. On the other hand, it’s not as improbable as it once would have once felt. 

Here’s a deal that has them sending him to the San Antonio Spurs.