The Charlotte Hornets seeing their franchise cornerstone LaMelo Ball in trade rumors should make obvious their failures this decade.
While some blame can be directed toward Ball for his lack of availability, the Hornets have failed to create a strong supporting cast around him, with the exception of star forward Brandon Miller. The former No. 2 pick displayed serious promise in a limited sophomore campaign after earning an All-Rookie nod in 2024.
Instead of moving Ball to a contender this offseason, the Hornets could trade for a veteran superstar to pair alongside him and Miller, becoming a championship-level team themselves.
Hornets Predicted To Trade for Anthony Davis
The Dallas Mavericks received a huge blessing just a few months after dealing Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, as they landed the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, or the rights to Duke Blue Devils phenom Cooper Flagg.
Despite adding Anthony Davis to the roster less than a season ago, Bleacher Report predicts he could already see a change of scenery. B/R’s Andy Bailey proposed a blockbuster deal sending Davis to Charlotte for Miles Bridges, Jusuf Nurkić, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick, and a 2031 first-round pick.
“This is about getting out of the contract of a post-prime and oft-injured Davis (who’s far more expensive than Nurkić and Bridges and under contract through 2028),” Bailey wrote. “And picking up multiple picks with which to build around Flagg.”
The article pointed out that this trade could only take place if Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison was fired, as he wouldn’t deal the player he essentially put his job on the line for.
“For Charlotte, this would obviously be a move to send it in the opposite direction of the one laid out above. Pursuing Davis would almost certainly mean keeping Ball. Those two would be a dynamic inside-out combo, especially with Miller providing some floor spacing on their flank,” Bailey concluded.
Davis has two guaranteed seasons left on his three-year, $175 million deal, meaning Charlotte’s front office would have time to build around their new-look ‘Big 3.’ If the Hornets act properly and swiftly, they could realistically be competing for championships by 2027.
There is one glaring issue with bringing Davis to Charlotte, which is he and Ball have major injury histories. The Mavericks’ big man has appeared in more than 65 games once this decade, while the Hornets’ guard hasn’t played in more than 50 games since 2022.
It’s a huge risk acquiring Davis, but it shows Ball they’re serious about competing for a title with him at the helm.
Another trade that makes since to clean up somebody else’s mess! He can’t stay healthy and he won’t make Hornets closer to the goal of making the playoffs but will end up trading Melo anyway and began the rebuild.
I’m not trading Melo or Miles unless I get that dude from another team. A healthy dude.
I think we have enough draft picks to build that way and land a deal later that is in our favor.
…This is ridiculous…we’re having a hard enough time keeping Ball healthy and on the court for a full season, and your wanting ANOTHER clockwork, injury-prone player in AD to play along side him?…why?…so they can likely both end up injured and on the bench together most of the season?…gtfoh.