Following a 113-110 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night, the Charlotte Hornets fell to 4-13 on the young 2025/26 NBA season. The loss marked Charlotte's sixth in a row, and the Hornets are closer to the last-place Washington Wizards in the standings than they are to the Boston Celtics, who occupy the #10 seed entering Monday.
Not only are the Hornets struggling on the court, but Charlotte is trying to managing controversy off it.
A report from Yahoo Sports' Kelly Iko last week made the explosive claim that the Hornets' star guard LaMelo Ball is seeking a trade out of Charlotte -- and the franchise is ready to accommodate him. Ball and the team have since refuted the report -- but as with most things on the internet, speculation about the talented but oft-injured guard is poised to continue for some time to come.
Ball-Anthony Davis trade idea presented
In refuting Yahoo's report, Ball criticized the "headlines" generated within the sports media ecosystem and said he had to speak out to set the record straight.
"I really don’t like commenting back on stuff, but when it gets too big you got to say something," Ball said. "It was so much that it was making headlines in Bleacher Report and this and that, so I didn't want it to keep going on."
Well, it just so happens that Andrew Bailey at Bleacher Report has a few trade ideas for Ball -- who missed Sunday's game managing his right ankle injury -- should his stance soften over staying in Charlotte.
Bailey has made a stunning proposal that the Hornets should deal Ball to the Dallas Mavericks in a trade that would bring Anthony Davis to Charlotte. The Mavericks also would land veteran Grant Williams, rookie Liam McNeeley, a top-5 protected first-round pick in 2028 and a lottery-protected first-round pick in 2030.
Trade rumors continue to swirl around Davis in Dallas, where the Mavericks' competitive timeline now seems built around 18-year-old Cooper Flagg. Davis, a 10-time All-Star and one of his generation's most feared defenders, has one season left on his contract before he can exercise a player option entering the 2027/28 NBA season.
Ball joining the Mavericks would bring a proven ball-handler to Dallas that would free Flagg from those responsibilities. However, Ball's injury history -- and the $130 million-plus he is owed over the next three seasons -- shrinks his market significantly.
Meanwhile, the Mavs still have Kyrie Irving on their roster, rendering Ball unnecessary for the time being.
More NBA news:
NBA insider: 'Hornets not looking to move LaMelo Ball anytime soon'
Warriors predicted to acquire $179 million former Nuggets star, NBA champion forward via trade
LaMelo Ball seeking trade out of Charlotte, Hornets open to moving him
Anthony Davis trade rumors get important update amid Nico Harrison firing
Why finding a suitable trade for LaMelo Ball could be easier said than done for Hornets