The Los Angeles Lakers are certainly in need for a bit of a roster shakeup after being bounced by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA playoffs this past season.
Yes, the Lakers have LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but James turns 40 in December, and while Davis was able to remain healthy last season, he is a massive injury risk.
Plus, Los Angeles lacks depth overall.
That’s why Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz is urging the Lakers to make a push for Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball, who has been mentioned in trade speculation.
So, would it make sense for the Hornets to trade Ball? Well, if they want to tank next season, it would obviously be the perfect plan, and questions remain about whether or not Ball is actually a franchise player.
Ball is certainly an impressive talent, but he has played in a grand total of 58 games the past two seasons. Given that he is under contract through 2029 at an average annual salary of $40.8 million, it may be time for Charlotte to cut the cord and move forward.
If the Hornets elect to place Ball on the trade block, the Lakers would almost certainly inquire.
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“Showtime would officially be back in Los Angeles with Ball, the most entertaining passer in the NBA today,” wrote Swartz. “He’s also a talented scorer (23.9 points per game last season) who would take a ton of offensive pressure off of James.”
Ball did post impressive scoring numbers last year, but he wasn’t incredibly efficient in doing so, posting a true-shooting percentage of 56.1 percent. Efficiency has never been a trademark of Ball’s, as he lays claim to a lifetime true-shooting percentage of 54.9 percent.
How much better would LaMelo Ball make the Los Angeles Lakers?
The Lakers want to win a title now, so any trades they make would be with the intent of winning a championship in 2025.
But would Ball be able to do that for them?
Again, it depends on whether or not he is able to remain healthy. In four NBA campaigns, the 23-year-old has played in 51, 75, 36 and 22 contests, respectively. He made the All-Star team in his one fully healthy season, flashing terrific two-way potential.
However, Ball is a rather inconsistent perimeter shooter, which wouldn’t be ideal for a Los Angeles squad that is in dire need of floor spacing.
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It’s also questionable as to how well Ball would mesh with James, given that both players are ball-dominant.
All of that said, the Los Angeles Lakers need to do something, and if Ball becomes available, they would be silly to not at least check in with the Hornets.
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