Breaking: LaMelo Ball Asks For Trade Out of Charlotte

November 20, 2025


Despite some nice young pieces added to the team over the last year or two, the Charlotte Hornets are still wallowing around near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, for the fourth straight year. Now their biggest star, LaMelo Ball, is tired of the losing, and is looking for an escape hatch. Multiple sources say he's looking for a trade. 

Yahoo Sports insider Kelly Iko is reporting that Ball "has grown increasingly frustrated with the organization and is open to a trade away from the franchise."

The feeling, it seems, says Iko, is mutual. "League sources say the front office is increasingly hesitant about cementing Ball as a long-term foundational piece, has become disillusioned with the 24-year-old and is open to moving him".

The star point guard was actually benched for the final 4:32 of regulation in a 127-119 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. He went 5-for-21 in the game, with 6 turnovers in 27 minutes.

Iko notes that Ball’s efficiency has reached career lows in this, his sixth season as a Hornet. He's averaging a career-worst field goal percentage of .385 and three-point percentage of .298. He is, however, putting up a career high in assists (9.6 per game). 

Ball was the Rookie of the Year in 2021 after the Hornets made him the third overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Finding a trade partner for Ball, despite his immense talent level, won't be the simplest task. He's earning $37.9 million this season and is still owed over $130 million for another three seasons after this one. Additionally, Ball is extremely injury-prone, having played no more than 47 games in a full season since 2021-22.

For the 240 career games he has played, he averages 21.1 points, 7.5 assists and 6.0 rebounds.

Photo: © Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

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