One of the most informed teams in the NBA’s Eastern Conference has sparked talk of reigniting Lonzo and LaMelo Ball for the first time since their Chino Hills high school days.
Lonzo Ball’s Trade Value Hits Rock Bottom as Cavaliers Seek Exit
NBA insider Marc Stein has revealed that talks of the Ball brothers reuniting could seriously happen before the trade deadline on Thursday. Per Stein’s Substack, “Sources say there has been some preliminary conversation between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets about Ball trade constructions.”
“(It) could furnish Charlotte with second-round draft capital and thus enable the Hornets to pair the elder Ball with his younger brother LaMelo.”
“Charlotte, Brooklyn, and Utah, according to league sources, are all teams that have been looking to facilitate multi-team trades or take on unwanted salary in exchange for draft pick compensation.”
Lonzo’s trade value is at an all-time low, averaging 4.6 points per game and shooting 30.1% from the field. Cleveland’s experiment on Ball hasn’t worked, and the franchise is looking at any way they can get off his $10 million player option next season.
“Sources with knowledge of Cleveland’s thinking have nonetheless maintained for days that the Cavaliers have not been actively looking to move Darius Garland or Max Strus.”
“They are focused instead on trying to shed Lonzo Ball’s $10 million salary for further financial flexibility.”
The Cavs have just acquired Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder, making Ball’s chances of any minutes extremely hard to come by. For Charlotte, Lonzo would come in as an experienced backup guard for his brother LaMelo, and despite his poor shooting, he can still be a high-IQ defender and playmaker.
What would a trade look like? The Cavs are desperate to ship Lonzo out of Cleveland, making the deal extremely lucrative for Charlotte. The Hornets could give up a filler player like Pat Connaughton with an expiring contract and, in return, receive a second-round draft pick and LaMelo’s older brother.
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LaMelo has been extremely influential in the Hornets’ recent run, showing a level of maturity that’s required of a leader looking to reach the playoffs. This season, he’s averaged 19.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.5 assists (5th in the NBA). His maturity and selflessness at the point guard position have caught the attention of some big-market teams.
The addition of his elder brother could be the perfect way to keep LaMelo happy in Charlotte, especially as they look to build a strong playoff team with Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel.
The Hornets have built their recent success on incredible draft picks, and another one in the arsenal is only a good thing for their future.
