Some NBA teams can’t seem to keep their house in order. No matter what, they’re always in the middle of some controversy. Recently, that team has been the Charlotte Hornets. They’ve been making headlines – for all of the wrong reasons.
The Hornets released Kai Jones. It was a disappointing outcome for a recent first-round pick. After that, Miles Bridges ran into (more) legal trouble. Trouble is following this organization. What can the Hornets do to change their fortunes?
Well, they could trade LaMelo Ball. That’s not the obvious answer here – Ball is the best player on the team, and he’s largely avoided controversy. Yet, there have been rumblings that he could eventually leave the organization. Perhaps the Hornets ought to get ahead of the problem. Could they send their franchise player to the New Orleans Pelicans?
The Trade Proposal
Charlotte Hornets Receive: G CJ McCollum, G/F Dyson Daniels, 2024 First-Round Pick (LAL via NOP), 2026 First-Round Pick (NOP), 2028 First-Round Pick (NOP)
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: G LaMelo Ball
The Pelicans haven’t always had their ducks in a row, either. There’s been some controversy around this team – it just hasn’t been as concerning as the drama surrounding the Hornets. The Pelicans have had some issues, but they’ve been manageable.
Most of them have revolved around Zion Williamson. He was involved in some…questionable off-court activities this summer. Ultimately, though, Williamson’s dating life is nobody’s business. On the other hand, his health is very much relevant to the Pelicans. If Williamson can’t get his body right, they won’t care what he’s doing when he isn’t on the floor.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets & New Orleans Pelicans Updates
Can he? It remains to be seen. Williamson needs to play at a certain playing weight to be himself. His combination of girth, speed, and vertical make him Zion Williamson. On the other hand, it doesn’t appear that his current playing weight is sustainable. Should the Pelicans pair him with Ball?
Why The New Orleans Pelicans Do The Deal
Meanwhile, Ball hasn’t been consistently healthy either. By now, he’s officially an injury risk. Should the Pelicans add him to a roster featuring Williamson? For what it’s worth, Brandon Ingram is a smaller injury risk but a risk nonetheless.
Sure. Following this deal, the Pelicans would have Zion Williamson, LaMelo Ball, and Brandon Ingram on the same team. Their combined offensive talents would only rival the Phoenix Suns across the entire league. This trio could make the Pelicans title contenders if they could stay healthy. Moreover, they’re each young enough to grow together.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets & New Orleans Pelicans Updates
With that in mind, we’d pull the trigger on this one if we were New Orleans. They’re already taking a risk by betting on Williamson – why not double down? If this works out, it could make them unstoppable. What does this deal do for the Hornets?
Why The Charlotte Hornets Do The Deal
This deal makes the Hornets a worse team. There’s no denying that. Here’s the rub – the Hornets are already a bad team. They’ve primarily been in the league’s basement for years. Occasionally, they’ve stumbled out of it – only to fall right back in.
Something needs to change in Charlotte. We’re not saying they’ve got to trade Ball. If that’s a non-option for this franchise, that’s understandable. On the other hand, the Hornets could benefit from a fresh start. We’ll say this: if the organization has any inkling that Ball is a flight risk, they should move on.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets & New Orleans Pelicans Updates
This would get them off to an excellent start. In a way, Daniels is a similar player to Ball – he’s another plus-sized playmaker. He offers much less playmaking but much more defense. Even if he never touches Ball’s overall level of impact, this deal equips the Hornets with three new unprotected first-rounders. Hopefully, the players they select don’t bring any trouble with them.
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