The Charlotte Hornets have limited star power, and LaMelo Ball is one of the few who can be considered among the NBA elites. As good as LaMelo is, though, his influence is described as questionable by scouts and agents across the league. According to NBA insider Zach Lowe, some agents would rather their players stay away from LaMelo and out of Charlotte.
“That Charlotte/Utah double at four-five, you have agents looking who look at those situations wildly differently,” said Lowe on his podcast. “You have some agents who are like, ‘I don’t know if I want to have my guy next to LaMelo Ball. I just don’t know if that’s a good fit for us.’ And yet, new ownership, new front office, that franchise is kind of doing everything else right.”
The Hornets have never been a premium destination for players, but they were hoping that LaMelo Ball could help lure some greater talent to the city. At 23 years old, Ball has emerged as one of the top offensive guards in the league with averages of 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game on 40.5% shooting.
Since being drafted in 2020, he’s stepped up as the face of the franchise and has shown nothing but loyalty in his first five seasons. The problem with LaMelo isn’t on the court — it’s his character behind the scenes.
The star point guard has been described as immature, and his lack of leadership skills has held the Hornets back for years. He’s been called out before for his lack of toughness and competitiveness, but the worst of it came this week when an NBA prospect refused to work out for the Hornets because of LaMelo’s presence.
Now, it seems NBA free agents across the league are trying to get their clients to duck the Hornets in hopes of avoiding a place by LaMelo’s side. Despite his talent, Ball’s shortcomings on defense and as a leader for his team have put his worth and value as a player into question. At the very least, critics are not convinced that he’s the type of player to make his teammates better.
At this stage of his career, LaMelo has already secured the bag ($120 million over three years), but his very legacy is at stake with these latest accusations. To date, LaMelo has never made the playoffs, and the Hornets have never been close to being competitive.
For Ball to prove himself worthy and the doubters wrong, he’ll have to achieve something more in Charlotte next season and show the world that his game is more than about making flashy plays or putting up big stats.
The time to win is now for the Hornets, and they must do whatever it takes to restore their reputation and become a team that young players feel good about joining. They might have to part with LaMelo to make it happen, but the star point guard will surely go for a reasonable package on the trade market.
