Reports have come out recently stating that Hornets star point guard LaMelo Ball is open to being traded elsewhere. With the Hornets struggling with and without him, fans are becoming more and more split on whether the sixth-year guard can really figure this out with Charlotte and show signs of growth. While the flash and flair of Ball are eye-popping and draw crowds at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, it's not leading to wins, and it's time to move on. Here’s why.

In 12 games this year, LaMelo Ball is averaging just 19.9 points per game on a tough 38% from the field and 28% from 3-point range. As a scorer, much of his offense has felt rushed and forced, especially with his shot selection. While this is nothing new regarding Ball’s development and style of play, it’s not something that can just be ignored anymore. The scoring inefficiency is causing him to no longer be the primary option on his team, and honestly, he's not even the second option with how well Kon Knueppel has been playing to start his rookie year. Another alarming stat is that he’s shooting this low despite putting up only 17.8 shots per game, his lowest field-goal attempt average since 2022.

Last night’s win over the rising Toronto Raptors added more support for the idea of moving on from Ball, and it was Miles Bridges and Knueppel who led the Hornets to victory. Not only did they lead Charlotte to a win, but Ball wasn’t even on the court during the Hornets’ critical run. Ball was benched in the fourth quarter when the Hornets were still behind; after he was benched, the Hornets went on a 26-8 run and secured the win. It’s clear as day that Charlotte is finding their identity on offense as the season goes on, and more often than not, Ball isn’t the catalyst.

In Ball’s defense, the low-minute total was due to a minutes restriction, but the Hornets still managed to overcome it and, frankly, look more cohesive on offense. With Charlotte having young players to build around outside of Ball, it seems they should at least throw out feelers to gauge his market. If Charlotte can’t get back multiple firsts or young pieces to build upon, let this ride, cause while they should be shopping him, they can’t sell too low, which is what makes this tricky given Ball’s offensive woes and injury history.

It’s not to say LaMelo is a lost cause; his talent remains undeniable, but he needs a significant change in his scoring approach and usage. It seems that with Brandon Miller, Knueppel and Bridges all showing offensive ability, Ball should shift toward being more of a facilitator who finds his shots without forcing them off the dribble, as he’s known to do.

With Charlotte having just achieved possibly their biggest win of the season, it’s now time to build on that momentum. They'll aim to see what they can accomplish now that Ball and Miller are healthy again. If things don’t improve, don’t be surprised if trade rumors about Ball intensify.