Despite brutally missing the mark on one of the storied franchise's most important decisions ever back in 2020, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors are still squarely in the hunt for a championship in 2025-26.
With the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Golden State decided to claim their hopeful center of the future in former University of Memphis star James Wiseman, a decision that still haunts the organization year-in and year-out.
Fortunately for the Warriors' dynastic trio of Curry, Draymond Green and head coach Steve Kerr, a bombshell report from Yahoo Sports' Kelly Iko could indicate that the franchise has an opportunity to pull off a blockbuster trade to land the player that was selected with the following pick in 2020 by the Charlotte Hornets in 2022 All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball.
"Following the Hornets' disappointing road loss to the 2-13 Indiana Pacers, their fourth straight, dropping Charlotte to 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 4-11 record, star guard LaMelo Ball has grown increasingly frustrated with the organization and is open to a trade away from the franchise, multiple league sources told Yahoo Sports," Iko wrote Thursday.
"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."
Sure, negotiating a franchise-altering trade with Charlotte may be somewhat of an outrageous decision for Golden State's general manager Mike Dunleavy, but the sixth-year superstar (when healthy) might end up being the most talented name thrown onto the trade block by any of the other 29 teams this season. At a time where a win-now trade appears more imperative than ever for the Warriors, Dunleavy's front office could keep their options open.
In his 240-game NBA career with the Hornets, Ball has developed into one of the game's most naturally gifted scorers, ball-handlers and passers, as he's averaged a fantastic 21.1 points, 7.5 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals while knocking down 36.2% of his 8.4 attempts from distance.
The prospect of trading for the 24-year-old offensive initiator would be a gigantic risk, though, considering his chronicled injury history and efficiency concerns. Plus, the Warriors would not get a deal across the finish line without offering up some of their more valued assets in the process.
To create a trade package that would match Ball's $37.9 million salary and satisfy Charlotte, Dunleavy would have to ship out a combination of Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski and even potentially Buddy Hield's $9.2 million salary.
Even still, there are too many hurdles preventing Golden State from bidding farewell to a few of those assets aside from Kuminga, as Kerr and the rest of the Warriors' coaching staff has evidently grown attached to the rapidly developing 23-year-old wing Moody.
Additionally, the Warriors would be sacrificing a slew of their defensive difference-makers to pair Curry and Ball in the backcourt. In the end, it could be argued that pursuing Ball is a risk that's not worth taking from a defensive standpoint, solely.
More NBA: Domantas Sabonis injury update: Kings star sidelined with meniscus tear