LaMelo Ball Rumors

In general, the best teams were featured in the T10 more often than the worst ones. But it’s noteworthy that the Charlotte Hornets (-9.1 Net Rating) can produce as many T10-worthy plays as the Oklahoma City Thunder (+12.7 Net Rating). The Hornets might not be good, but at least they’re fun. Call it LaMelo Ball’s Funhouse of Highlights. The Los Angeles Lakers were featured in the T10 more than any other team last season. I know I said star power and market size don’t dictate what makes the T10, but the Well, But LeBron Exception applies here. The Brooklyn Nets finished last season with just 18 appearances in the T10. But if you count all the times that Ziaire Williams and Nic Claxton were on the wrong end of a T10 poster dunk then their total would go up.

Substack

What have you witnessed from LaMelo this offseason as taking a step forward as a leader on and off the court? Grant Williams: He’s doing a lot of things that bring value. Not only his voice, but just his approach. He’s in there every single day. He’s there and present and I think is somebody we can look to and see like, ‘He’s actually putting the work in every single day, not this person who is away from us and claims to be doing the work.’ No, he’s doing it every single day. He’s doing every single workout, he’s being available. Not only just from a like, ‘Hey, let’s go do this.’ If maybe we do a mini camp, ‘Let’s organize this, I’ll take care of these guys, I’ll do this.’ So, he’s being very, very welcoming in a sense of as a leader and understanding that he’s going to have to take it to a more mature step in his role in order for us to be the best team possible.

Charlotte Observer

How can Collin help him out? Grant Williams: His intensity, I think, will help him out, because his seriousness, his pressure, and his ability to not only take the scoring load off him will also be very valuable. Because now LaMelo doesn’t have to force these shots, because he has a guy like Tre Mann, he has a guy like Collin, he has some guys that can really offload that scoring opportunity but also give him a break.

Charlotte Observer

Nick DePaula: OFFICIAL LOOK: LaMelo Ball’s 5th @PumaHoops signature shoe — the MB.05 Brand says design is “inspired by his rockstar status on and off the court,” features phrases & graphics from his tattoos and launches on August 29th. pic.x.com/z7CwCzjT9W

Twitter

I’m sure you hear about how you and LaMelo Ball haven’t been able to play much together in the past two seasons. How focused are guys in staying heathy this season? Brandon Miller: Of course. It’s always the main thing, you know, just keeping our bodies together. We know it’s a long season. Having us two on the floor can make the big difference (in having) a winning team.

Charlotte Observer

ClutchPoints: "LaMelo [Ball] needs to have a goal going into the season ... 'I'ma be the top point guard, I'ma play 82 games & get my team to the playoffs.'" Baron Davis gives his viewpoint on LaMelo Ball heading into the new season 🗣️ (via @PodcaPShow)

Twitter

Ben Golliver: LaMelo Ball pulls up to the Hornets’ Summer League game

x.com

In addition to teams like Sacramento, Dallas and the LA Clippers whose needs at that position have been a daily talking point, league sources say Charlotte has been searching for veteran ball handlers to back up LaMelo Ball.

marcstein.substack.com

Charania said on McAfee’s show that he has not heard anything concrete regarding the Hornets’ interest in trading Ball. However, he stressed that this is the period when he’d expect to start hearing rumors across the league. He wouldn’t discount the Hornets potentially listening to a trade offer for Ball after back-to-back poor seasons, with Charlotte still in the initial stages of a rebuild. “Listen, if a team calls the Hornets and makes a massive offer, makes a real push for LaMelo Ball, if you’re the Hornets, you have to be all ears at that point. At the position they are with their franchise,” Charania said.

profootballnetwork.com

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."

Yahoo! Sports

Now that a majority share of the Lakers is going to be sold by the Buss family to Mark Walter, the elder Ball wants his three sons — Lonzo, LaMelo and LiAngelo — to play for the Purple and Gold and for Magic Johnson to return to the organization. “More news!” LaVar said. “The Lakers just sold for $10 billion. Uh oh. Hey, [Los Angeles] Clippers, you better get my boys or Lakers if you put Magic back in line. Let Magic run this thing so we go get these championships, 'cause he know what to do. Magic, this for you. Since them Lakers is ran by a new group, shoot. A new time, new era. Go get the Ball boys. Hey, it’s not even about a bidding war. First come, first serve. “Whoever wants them championships, better get the Ball boys. Trust me when I tell you. But Magic, if you in line, I’m down with you, dawg. Holler at your boy.”

Yahoo! Sports

Lou Williams: I can see the Clippers making a play for a premier point guard. I know they've been in the market for one. They've been trying to figure out what they're going to do at that position. And that’s one of the things that’s going to help them. You know, if you can slide James Harden back over to the two, and kind of give them that balance—put him in a position to start being a scoring guard again, as opposed to the facilitator he’s turned into with the Clippers—that may help them. On the other side of it, with Charlotte, if they draft another point guard, they're showing you their hand. They're showing you that they’re possibly going to move in a different direction, depending on where they draft that point guard in this draft. So I can see the Clippers making a play for LaMelo Ball—and him being able to go home and do something special at the crib."

YouTube

Full basketball activities haven’t arrived yet for LaMelo Ball, but he’s coming along during the process. “Yeah, I’ve seen great consistency with him just trying to get himself back after his procedures,” Lee said, “getting in the gym, doing everything he can physically and mentally to get his body right. Because then that next phase after he gets himself back mentally and physically is to hit the court and try to work on some of those skill acquisitions. “But again, body is going to be one of the most important things so we can continue to have him durable.”

Charlotte Observer

Lonzo Ball: "I wasn’t getting in trouble like that. Melo was getting in trouble. "Honestly, some stories I can’t even say. He was really bad. Probably the worst kid I’ve ever met. He’s calmed down a lot though—I’ll give him credit for that."

YouTube