LaMelo Ball’s name is picking up serious steam in the NBA trade market during draft week, and with free agency approaching, the Charlotte Hornets find themselves at a crossroads with their franchise cornerstone. According to Marc Stein, “The Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors have emerged as two of the teams with trade interest in Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, league sources tell @JakeLFischer and me.”
According to Shams Charania, multiple teams are strongly pursuing Ball, and the Hornets are actively engaged in trade discussions surrounding the star guard. The situation is fluid and developing rapidly.
NBACentral is reporting:
“The Milwaukee Bucks are also showing interest in LaMelo Ball, per @TheSteinLine & @JakeLFischer “A trade for Ball would certainly do that. The Timberwolves and Raptors are the first two confirmed suitors, but league sources say that the Milwaukee Bucks have also registered interest. And there are presumed to be other teams making lodging interest with Charlotte despite the 24-year-old’s injury history and at-times-erratic play.”
Sources indicate Ball does want to remain in Charlotte, a factor that has kept both sides in a good place throughout conversations. “Multiple teams are strongly pursuing LaMelo Ball right now. The Hornets are engaged. Ball does want to be in Charlotte. If the price is met he could very well be on the move. This is a developing story potentially over the next 24-48 hours.”
As Charania explains, the 23-year-old had a strong finish to the 2025-26 season — a stretch that mirrored the Hornets’ own rise over the course of the last calendar year. Charlotte showed significant improvement as a franchise, and Ball was at the center of it all.
However, the Hornets are not simply turning away suitors. The organization has made it clear that if an aggressive enough offer is made and the price is met, Ball could very well find himself in a new uniform. Charlotte’s willingness to engage signals a front office determined to maximize value, even if that means parting with its biggest star.
With draft night in the rearview mirror and free agency on the horizon, the LaMelo Ball sweepstakes figures to be the dominant story of the NBA offseason. Expect this one to move fast.
