After Wednesday’s loss to Indiana – a game in which he was benched for the final 4:32 – LaMelo Ball has grown “increasingly frustrated” with the Hornets and is now open to being traded, according to multiple league sources who spoke with Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports.
Charlotte’s struggles continue, as the Pacers entered the night 1–13 and still managed to hand the Hornets their fourth straight loss, dropping them to 4–11.
Ball posted 18 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and two steals in 27 minutes, but shot just 5-of-21 and committed six turnovers.
Ball, the No. 3 pick in 2020 and the 2021 Rookie of the Year, has seen his career knocked off track by persistent ankle issues, playing only 105 of 246 possible games over the previous three seasons.
This year has been uneven as well, with six missed games due to a right ankle impingement and overall offensive inconsistency. Even so, Iko notes that Charlotte performs far better when Ball is on the court than when he sits.
One reported source of tension is Ball’s preference for a faster offensive style. He favors an uptempo approach, while the Hornets currently rank just 20th in pace.
According to Iko, the frustration extends to the front office too. Charlotte’s leadership has become “disillusioned” with Ball, no longer sees him as the long-term franchise anchor, and is open to trade scenarios.
Still, it’s unclear what kind of interest he would draw around the league given his injury history, substantial contract, and questions about his on-court habits. Ball is in the first season of a four-year, $168.7 million maximum deal.
Hornets’ LaMelo Ball Reportedly Open To Trade https://t.co/UQq3RZdSeL pic.twitter.com/pDaGcSm0rj
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) November 20, 2025
