Insider points to ‘ironic’ LaMelo Ball-Raptors shenanigans after offseason check-in
The The Charlotte Hornets were somewhat disappointing so far this season, currently 8-18 heading into Thursday night’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. While Kon Knuepel is enjoying one of the best seasons for a rookie point guard in recent years, the Hornets have seen a decline in play from LaMelo Ballas well as the ongoing injury concerns of the All-Star point guard.
That being the case, some have pegged Ball as a potential trade candidate as the February deadline looms, as NBA insider Michael Scotto of Hoopshape recently pointed out one team that is supposedly inquired about Ball during the summer.
“Speaking of trade interest, the Toronto Raptors checked on Ball’s availability over the summer, league sources told HoopsHipe,” Scotto reported. “Ironically, Ball ran out of the tunnel with the Raptors before their game against the Hornets in Toronto on Dec. 5. Later in the game, he injured his ankle and has been sidelined ever since.”
Indeed, a video of Ball running out of the tunnel with the Raptors recently went viral on social media, with some taking it as a sign that the point guard is looking to court a new team.
It should be noted that Ball recently denied reports of his displeasure with the Hornets organization, which drafted him back in 2020. The Hornets haven’t exactly done a great job of surrounding Ball with a good supporting cast during his career, as Knuepel is the first true shooting threat to be paired with Ball during his career.
Either way, there’s a chance Ball will return from injury for Thursday night’s home game against the Hawks. That contest is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM ET from Charlotte.
2025-12-18 18:13:00
