The Charlotte Hornets are off another bad start, as they are 4-11 in their first 15 games, and they could be headed to a fork in the road with their best player.
Yahoo Sports' Kelly Iko reports that Ball has grown frustrated with the Hornets organization and is open to a potential trade. According to Iko, the organization hasn't pushed back on the possibility of a trade, as the Hornets have been hesitant to commit to Ball as a long-term cornerstone of the team.
After the report came out, Ball responded on social media with a simple clown face emoji.
— Melo (@MELOD1P) November 20, 2025
Ball is currently in the second year of a five-year, $203 million deal he signed with Charlotte in 2023. As a result, any team that acquires Ball would have to pay him over $40 million per season through 2029 on a deal that increases in cap hit by over $2.5 million each season.
Of course, the NBA trade rules are complicated, as there are many rules regarding how much money teams can trade. With that in mind, here's a look at five teams that could be aggressive in pursuing Ball.
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LaMelo Ball trade destinations
5. Toronto Raptors
As big-name players could be on the move this season, the Toronto Raptors are a team that is in prime position. Toronto has several highly-paid players who could be moved in any deal, along with their future first-round picks.
Depending on what the Hornets would want back in return, the Raptors can offer any of Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley or R.J. Barrett as the financial centerpiece. If Charlotte wants more picks, then maybe Quickley or Barrett would headline a package, but if the Hornets want a franchise-caliber player, then Barnes or Ingram could be discussed.
4. Utah Jazz
While the Utah Jazz aren't the most attractive situation, they have the cap space and draft assets to make an aggressive offer. Utah has the second most cap space in the NBA along with three first-round picks in the 2027 draft and two in the 2029 draft.
A deal with the Jazz could be built around future assets, like young players and draft picks, or a potential franchise-caliber player in Lauri Markkanen. Utah could be looking to move Markkanen during this season anyway, making this a possible match.
3. Miami Heat
Perhaps the best team on this list, the Miami Heat have been in search of a franchise player since the Jimmy Butler era began going sideways. Miami could offer Andrew Wiggins or Terry Rozier's contract as a salary filler while trading young players, like Jaime Jazquez Jr. Or Kasparas Jakučionis.
The Hornets already own a protected Heat first-round pick in 2027, a pick that Miami could make unprotected as part of the deal. Ball would give Miami a franchise cornerstone to build around for the next decade.
2. Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets have both the cap space and draft capital to pursue any star player that is put on the trade market. Besides having the most available cap space of any team in the NBA, the Nets also have multiple first-round picks in four of the next six seasons, including all of their own first-rounders.
Trading with Brooklyn would be based around cap space or young talent, as Brooklyn is currently undergoing a full rebuild. If Charlotte wants to collect future assets in a Ball deal, then the Nets are the best match.
1. Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a team in flux, as their relationship with star Ja Morant is a little fractured. Therefore, the Grizzlies could offer the Hornets a simple one-for-one swap of Morant for Ball. Morant, who is from South Carolina, could welcome a trade to a team closer to his home, while both teams would get fresh starts with young point guards.
Memphis has already begun a bit of a shakeup when the team traded Desmond Bane in the offseason. Since both Morant and Ball are making similar salaries this year, a trade like this wouldn't change either cap sheet much in the way that it would for other teams.
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