LaMelo Ball’s Injury FRUSTRATION GROWS | Should Charlotte TRADE for Domantas Sabonis?
Doug Branson is flying solo on today’s show as the team prepares for the Milwaukee Bucks. The program begins with the biggest issues facing the Charlotte Hornets, starting with the mystery around LaMelo Ball’s ankle impingement. Doug addresses fan frustration following LaMelo’s brief Greensboro Swarm practice assignment, noting the lack of clarity around the injury is reaching a “boiling point”.
Next, the show analyzes the loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The biggest takeaway is why this version of the Hornets, without LaMelo and Brandon, is consistently getting shellacked in the third quarter. Doug examines how poor starting lineups and defensive issues are contributing to a terrible -29.2 net rating in the third over the last five games.
Finally, the conversation shifts to trade market opportunities. With reports that the Sacramento Kings are looking to tear down their roster, Doug debates which player the Hornets should pursue. Domantas Sabonis emerges as the key target, with Doug discussing the necessary package to acquire the three-time All-Star center to pair with a healthy LaMelo Ball.
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#Hornets #LaMelo #LaMeloBall #CharlotteHornets
35 Comments
Just change Lamelos role to spot up shooter . Not many teams at all will want him so just make him spot up in the corner until somebody wants him
Pretty sad reading the comments. He's the best player CHA has had since Kemba. I guarantee you if we give up on him he will do what Steph did and become legendary
How many picks does Sacramento have to give is the question. I’d trade Lamelo there for sure and do one more tank year and If we land a top 3 pick we are in business with a stockpile of assets.
But I’d wait till the offseason to do it.
this has nothing to do with talent but I’m definitely trading Melo for Sabonis… miles is the only one that can stay healthy you don’t get rid of that regardless of what y’all think bout him
Get Mello back on the roster and two full games then ship him out. Miller should be on a short leash. Tank should be on. Some good talent coming up in this draft
So over Lamelo . Get anything you can for him and move on . He doesn’t wanna be here . Give Collin his role and move forward . He’s a liability now .
Sabonis and a pick for miles, pat, and green
Would LOVE to get Sabonis. Would require giving up some picks but well worth sending the Dallas 2027 first (poor draft) and some seconds. Miles and filler is a steal, which means Kings probably wouldn’t do it.
It’s so hard being a fan of the ball brothers and the hornets smh
Lamelo gotta go. At this point we’re living the definition of insanity and the sentiment is reeling through media that covers the hornets. Aren’t you guys tired of covering this team every season and talking about injuries? Because we’re tired of hearing about it. Lamelo is not contributing to morale of the fanbase nor is he contributing to the success of the team. The organization has done its due diligence in being patient and letting him (quite literally “ get his feet underneath him. This is most certainly NOT a situation where we gave up on player to early. We can comfortably move on from LaMelo and say with certainty that this is a player we did right by and it just didn’t work out. I feel at this point we’re just keeping him because we’re scared to death that he’s going to have success elsewhere and that is what is killing this team and its fanbase. We have nothing to hold on to as far as the future. I as well as the rest of this fanbase would much rather look forward too whatever first ring draft talent we would get in exchange for Lamelo as opposed to another season of hoping and praying Lamelo stays healthy. Give us the picks.
Trade him. Move on.
But CHA is Summer League Champions😂 Look, my Wash Wizards need to keep losing games so we'll spot U a couple. We're masters at turning late game double digit leads into losses👍
Need to upgrade PF position.
Would you throw in TJ? I would lol
Nope
Can’t put all blame on one player it’s a team game and lose as a team not as an individual
What's up Doug. I like the proposal for Sabonis. Wish we could get him that would be 😎. Plenty of offense..
I’m thinking Westbrook, he helps in 2 areas !
1) he takes amazing care of his body and game preparation, maybe Lamelo and Miller can learn something in that area as so may other stars have
2) He’d immediately be our second best playmaker, on a team that struggles heavily when Melo not on the floor… maybe he won’t like a limited role but him off the bench stabilizes our bench scoring… he’d spoon fed Kalk, Kon, Grant and Salaun
Sabonis doesn’t make sense as Lee wants everybody shooting 3s unless you at C…. I don’t think Sabonis can play C and he can’t really shoot however if you play him at 5….. that changes things dramatically.. and in say 2 years Kalk should be really ready to take over as a great starter ?
If there's a Sabonis move it would have to wait til the offseason. We need to prioritize a top pick in this draft. But Sabonis and Kon would run a really nice two man game. He would be a floor raiser for sure. He has playoff limitations, but we need to worry about getting there first.
Hear me out Anthony Davis for lamelo+ some picks??👀👀
Kon is the future.
The best plan of action right now is to play all hands and not cash out. There is no instant reversal here. We have to play the patience game.
That means unfortunately to see this team right now as a rebuild with our rookies. We should prioritize them playing as much as possible together. Experience, not winning, is the goal for them (so we can get another great pick. This new front office seems to evaluate talent well.)
At the same time we can make a mid to late push for the playoffs once we get all our players back since the east is so weak right now. We should not trade Ball until he comes back and starts performing well regardless. His value will increase closer to the deadline which means it is ok if Ball misses time right now. We want him back healthy and ready for the trade deadline or off-season moves.
Only then, if we get a significant offer for Ball at the trade deadline (if the season is lost by that point) or during the off-season should we trade.
Miles should be looked at as a trade asset for the deadline unless we get something significant early.
The Hornets org is frustrating in so many ways, but I’d say the most frustrating is their communication with their fans. They have no interest in letting us know what’s going on and it really makes it hard to wanna root for this team.
Lamelo been hurt more than lonzo
Crazy
It sucks
Clippers seriously need a reset. Maybe LaMelo for Zubac+? If Hornets go that direction I'd prefer more of a 2 way center over Sabonis who only plays offense.
BRANDON MILLER , has been hurt and missing time in the first 10 games or more every season now.
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO INVEST LONG-TERM AS A TEAM WHEN YOU ARE NOT GETTING 65 – 70 games from a NBA PLAYER
BRANDON MILLER AND LAMELO BALL , I LOVE BOTH PLAYERS AS INDIVIDUALS
BUT CAN WE GET 65-70 GAMES FROM EITHER PLAYER ON A YEARLY BASIS
CAN WE GET 20 CONSECUTIVE GAMES FROM EITHER PLAYER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR
THEY ARE FRAGILE PLAYERS
I'm losing patience with LaMelo and Brandon Miller…..If they're not hurt anymore, they need to get their butts on the court and play. If they dont want to play in Charlotte anymore, facilitate a trade for both of them and get em outta there. As far as acquiring assets grom Sacramento, I'd say go after Damantas Sabonis especially. Zac LaVine and maybe DeMarr DeRozen. But if I'm hoing to get any one of those guys I'd prefer Sabonis.
Miles for Sabonis? Yes, please.
I need Lamelo to talk to Steph Curry man. What was it he did to overcome the ankle injuries? This is getting ridiculous!
Great podcast Doug 🙌🏻, the rookies have been a bright spark so far this season, looking forward to see Kon continues to play 🏀. Really hoping on some positive news on Lamelo and Brandon 👍🏻. Let’s go Hornets 🙌🏻
Dude, where's the episode for today?