Finding a talented player for the Charlotte Hornets has never been an easy task. But they landed the jackpot with LaMelo Ball in the 2020 NBA Draft.
But for a small-market team like the Hornets, it’s never an easy task to keep a player of Ball’s caliber happy. LaMelo recently spoke about his long-term future with the Hornets, and his answer showed signs of doubt.
“Play it by the day,” Ball said. “I love it here. I can’t really tell the future. We’ll just see how it goes and go from there.”
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LaMelo Ball on his long term future in Charlotte. pic.twitter.com/t2eBaNy9ti
— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) April 10, 2023
LaMelo is a talented player, there are no two ways to look at it. But since entering the league, the Hornets haven’t advanced to the postseason even once.
This season, the franchise finished with a 27-55 record as they were the 14th seed in the Eastern Conference. If the Hornets do not get quality players around Ball soon, he will most likely force a move out of the team.
LaMelo Ball Is Currently Dealing With An Ankle Injury
The 2022-23 campaign was supposed to be a breakout season for LaMelo Ball. But Ball featured in just 36 games this season.
He fractured his ankle, which ruled him out for the season in February 2023. Ball was averaging 23.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 8.4 APG prior to getting injured.
The 21-year-old was on track to earn the second NBA All-Star appearance of his career. Unfortunately, it all went down the drain following his injury.
Anyway, LaMelo will be focusing on making a comeback this offseason and, hopefully, helping the Hornets bounce back next season. The 2023-24 NBA season will be extremely crucial for the franchise as he will become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2024.
Will the Hornets find a way to convince Ball to sign a long-term deal? Or will they lose a potential franchise player next season? We will find out soon.
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