The Charlotte Hornets have announced that they will shut down LaMelo Ball for the rest of the season, following their poor record of 18-54. Ball has been out of action since suffering a right ankle injury during a game against the Magic just days after Thanksgiving. This injury occurred when he landed awkwardly on his ankle after a play involving Paolo Banchero, which is the same ankle that he had surgery on towards the end of the previous season.
Despite his injury, Ball had been having one of the best seasons of his career prior to this setback. He was averaging 25.9 points and 8.6 assists per game with a 3-point shooting percentage of 38.9%. However, his season-ending injury has raised concerns about his ability to maintain good health and play consistently, which may affect his future with the team.
There have been rumors that the Hornets may consider trading Ball due to his injury history and large contract, but finding a suitable trade partner willing to meet their demands for the two-time All-Star could be challenging. Despite this, Brandon Miller has emerged as a key player for the Hornets this season and will now have more opportunities to showcase his skills on the court as Ball’s season comes to an end officially.
This decision marks another blow for Charlotte’s hopes of making it back into playoff contention anytime soon. With no clear timeline for Ball’s return yet, it may take until next training camp for him to fully recover and be ready for action again.
In conclusion, LaMelo Ball’s injury has left Charlotte struggling in terms of performance and future prospects. Nonetheless, there are still some promising players like Brandon Miller who can help turn things around if given more opportunities. It remains to be seen whether or not this latest setback will be enough to convince Charlotte’s management that it’s time to explore new options with their star player or if they will stick with him through thick and thin despite his health issues.