LaMelo Ball Has A LOT To Prove This Season
They traded away Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns. Lost to Kogi, lost Meich. Brought in Pat Conneathan, Mason Plumbley, Colin Sex. No big names. They’re big acquisitions came in the draft. Coniple out of Duke in the lottery. Liam McNeely as well. Seion James, Ryan Kulk Brener. Pretty good draft class that I’m pretty excited about for their roster. And you put look at those guys inserted into their rotation alongside Miles Bridges and Brennan Miller and LaMelo Ball and some of those affforementioned veterans. They have con Pat Coneton, Colin Ston, Grant Williams, Josh Green. It’s not going to be a good team. But on paper, you can talk yourself into the Hornets as a team where it’s like we finally have a direction here. And yet, David, the biggest question with this team is can LaMelo Ball prove that he’s actually a true centerpiece because unless he does that, none of this none of this really matters at all. All the other good things that seem to be happening unless a LaMelo ball can do something. So, um I will first will disagree a little bit with you, which is pretty rare. I know you don’t mind. I That’s totally I was not disagree. You’re you’re more of a draft draft expert than me. Uh I I knew some guys really well. I didn’t really study every single guy very closely, but I didn’t like anyone they drafted. Uh you didn’t like anybody they drafted. No, I don’t dislike Canopel. I I’ve known about him since he was a junior in high school because college one one college coach in particular who used to work for me kind of discovered him at the high major level when he was just getting mid- major looks and then all of a sudden he blew up and my my guy helped him do that because he was in Alabama and all of a sudden Alabama’s recruiting you coming off of Final Four or whatever it was maybe maybe Brandon Miller’s year you’re suddenly pretty darn good and then if Duke came in and the rest is history. He’s tough. He’s a fighter. I get all of that. I I his lack of athleticism is concerning to me in the way the league is being played now. I I do think he’s a good basketball player. He won’t be terrible, but I thought he was drafted too high. I wasn’t a fan of anyone they drafted. I don’t know McNeely much. I’ve talked to people who love him. The kid from Connecticut from Montbird. I was just at Montford recently. It’s not far from where I live. I spoke to uh one of their coaches I used to train. He was very high in him. So, I get it. All you guys love Lee McNeely. I just didn’t really see much when I saw him play. But that’s not the issue. They’re all rookies, so it doesn’t matter. You nailed it. Uh Lamelo I, if you may know this, I wrote an article when he was Australia where I believe my partner Henry Abbott titled it because I don’t do the titles, an alarming lack of competitive fire. And that’s what I saw. That wasn’t my title, but that’s what I wrote is I saw a player wholly focused on style and fun and entertainment and and not all interested in winning basketball games consistently, which means you have to win possessions consistently. I thought he had Jason Kid, Ben Simmons kind of gifts built differently. Unbelievably gifted passer, great feel for the game, much better shooter, right, than he was coming out of Australia. He was terrible. Absolutely disgusting shot selection. That’s the You heard me refer to him when I was talking about Trey. Ridiculous. Ridiculous shot selection. Zero. You don’t like the one the one-footed threes, David. You’re not a fan. Ridiculous interest in consistently defending with urgency and playing. Does it make you turn your TV off, David? Do you just slam your laptop shut when he takes those shots? No, but um I tend not to just pay attention to Charlotte. I my my rule is I don’t really watch people if they’re not if if serious about winning. Why would I be serious about watching them? I have seven screens on my office, Kevin, which is next to my view my TV my computer room ram where I am right now where I do my writing and my film study and Charlotte’s almost never on because they’re just they’re not interested winning. However, I love their coach. I like Trey Man. I I am absolutely in love with Brandon Miller. Love him. I wrote about him today, published it today. I think he he’s he is a winner. When if you watch that Alabama team, which I did, especially after the fact where I studied tape, he made so many winning plays for them as as a teenager, I think he can be fantastic and really the the first guy to get them out of where they’ve been. I think the Hornets, even though I don’t love their draft, I could be wrong. player development is more important than who these guys are anyway in my opinion. If their player development is good, I I like Charles Lee a lot as a coach. Those guys can become at least serviceable, if not even decent starters or rotation players. Brandon Miller can be a star. I’m a fan of Trey Man, a big fan of Trey Man, who I think should be a backup. Uh the saloon kid, I I think it’s how you say it, the the first round pick last year. He’s got talent. Um, I I think that when you can get one star moving in the right direction, to me that’s Brandon Miller, you could start seeing a path forward, that’s what we talked about with some of these other teams. If LaMelo decides to join the club, great. All of a sudden, they have two all-star level players. And now they’re a serious team to be to be looked at as the other guys develop. Uh, Brennan Miller needs to not follow LaMelo’s footsteps and create his own path and play and defend with urgency. And if LaMelo doesn’t do that this year, they’re going to have a hard time trading with that contract and all that goes with it. I heard he’s an amazing guy, by the way. So, I’m not at all critical of who he is as a human being. But, um, that’s everyone tells me in Charlotte what a great guy he is and how sweet he is, whatever. But, um, I’m not convinced at all that he cares about winning and, uh, and that’s a problem. Yeah. And at this point, he’s now 24 years old. will be making almost $38 million this year with three more years remaining on that deal at 40 billion 44 million 46 million. That’s going to take him through the 2829 season. No options on that contract. There is a 15% trade kicker as well if he were to get moved. It’s not an impossible contract to move, but it’s really tough. And I think with LaMelo, so you talk about all the inconsistencies on the floor that you’re talking about, the the questions about how much does he actually value winning and then just the fact he’s been injured basically all but one season of his entire career. So you’re talking about durability concerns on top of basketball concerns, on top of mental makeup concerns when it comes to the approach to winning. Like there’s a lot of big question marks for the Hornets with the guy who is their quote unquote face of the franchise. And to me, I think this is the year he needs to prove he’s about winning. Prove he can do that because I think Vernon Miller, you and I are on the same page with him. I think that dude is an absolute baller. He cares about winning. He he eats, lives, dies basketball. The dude just loves being in the gym. Coniple, I mean, I understand your concerns about his athleticism, but same thing with him. even if he’s just a role player. Maybe he was drafted too high. Maybe that happens. But he is a baller. He loves to win. He’s a high IQ guy. And I think a lot of the guys on the roster are like that. They just need LaMelo Ball to show that he’s on the same page as these guys. And he hasn’t yet. And I in the in the back of my mind I wonder is this just maturity? Can he grow up? Because as you said, you hear, you know, people like to be around him. I think the front office and PR and, you know, teammates all like LaMelo, but how much can you like the guy when it comes to, you know, winning 28 games, 30 games? Like, he he just needs to be better and he also just needs to be on the floor. And until that happens, I it it’s hard to think about this team as anything, but I feel like they’re wandering. They’re just in that category of teams to me where it’s like they should be a team that’s on the rise where it’s like, okay, the Hornets are going to be in the playoffs this year. They’re going to be competing for the seven seed. They’ll be in the playin. But it’s like I I don’t have any confidence to say that with Charlotte this year until LaMelo proves it. And that’s one of the biggest ifs of I think really anybody, anybody, any team, any player in the NBA is what are you going to get from LaMelo Ball? I do not know. I can’t make that prediction that you you put that well. Um I’m rooting for him. I want him to be successful. I I want to be wrong when I wrote that he he doesn’t play with the kind of fire that this league needs. And again, this league, if you watch the playoffs, it’s only getting tougher. The you and I talked about this during the pre-draft process. Uh, every team is looking for those dogs, those guys that really get after it. Uh, hound you full court, dive all the time, take charges that I be able to play if you contact. LaMelo is such a fragile guy. I don’t know what he looks like this year. I’ve not seen him. But, uh, if he he just I’d just like to see progress. Play 70 games, which, you know, it’s not his fault if he gets hurt necessarily. I don’t know if he’s doing all the little things that you’re supposed to do. Hopefully, he is. And just make some progress on that end. You don’t have to be You don’t have to be the world’s best player this year. Just be better. I’ll tell you a name to watch out for. They have a a 68 or so uh guard named Drew Peterson on the two-way. He was in Boston the last two years. And I know Drew. I think he’s exactly what uh we’re talking about when you say Khan and and Bran are ballers. He’s a baller. And I spoke to a team this week who’s desperate to get him, but but he’s in Charlotte. They can’t get him right now. He’s on Charlotte’s roster. I mean, he’s one of the best, if not the best two-way player out there right now. And I also, as I said, I love Trey Man’s game. I’d like to see Trey really take a step forward. He got hurt also last year because a lineup of Trey Man or Brandon Miller, they don’t need LaMelo. There’s a good back court right there as a starting point. I think Trey’s way better than people realize. I don’t know Trey, but he’s from Florida. I followed him a lot. He went to play for the Gator actually. And uh I I also I like the franchise. Let me be clear on that. I think management’s going in the right direction. They’ve hired some good people. I I they are looking they’re trying to find an identity with who they’re drafting. I think that matters. Uh I do they’re they’re building a new practice facility. I think it’s kind of a mess there right now with that. But I do think they’ve got their ducks in a row in a way they didn’t under previous ownership. And that’s really the biggest thing of all is is from the top if things are going well. And I think they are. Give it a few years. If LaMelo gets better, they’ll get better faster. If not, I still think this group will figure some stuff out. And again, I’m a big fan of Charles Lee. I’m I’m with you there. I’ve heard similar positive feedback about their new ownership, and we’ll see how that all pans out in the years to come. and what they end up doing with LaMelo. I do know one thing, a new front office, new ownership, they would not hesitate to move on from LaMelo Ball if he continues to sour over the remainder of this contract. Let’s move on to our final team in the Southeast Division. The Washington Wizards this off season drafted Trey Johnson in the lottery, Will Riley, Jamir Watkins out of Florida State, uh callers that you know well they lose Jordan Pool, Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogden, they bring in some bets. CJ McCollum joining Chris Middleton as one of the bets on this team. Malachi Brandham, Dylan Jones, Cam Whitmore, Marvin Begley as well. And this Wizards team, they are they’re not going to be good. They’re in the tanking tier, I’d say. Um, they’re so young. Unless Chris Middleton has a huge back bounceback year and Chris, unless CJ McCollum takes a step now in his 30s, this team is not going to be good. But you look at the names on the roster, David, I like a lot of the young guys. I I really like a lot of the young guys on this roster. And you know, I think with Trey Johnson, Cam Whitmore, Will Riley, Keshan George, Bub Carrington, all five guys I have listed in the bench column, they’re all kind of guards wings. There’s a lot of minutes to distribute some of these guys. Um, and I think with them, maybe you’ll see this team play a lot of small uh, lineups this coming season. But we’ll see how that all plays out. Bottom line, though, I like the youth. It’s just nowhere near ready to do anything of substance even in the Eastern Conference. Who Who are the young guys that you like and dislike on this Wizards team? Le, if you don’t mind, leave that roster up. I’ll go right through it. That’s what I was going to do. I think Sar is super talented. big big fan of his potential as a rim protector, as just an athlete. He’s, you know, he’s he’s a foreign guy. He’s young, but I think he’s got a chance. Koulabali showed real signs last year on and off. He certainly looked there are times he looks like he’s going to be a star player. Really struggled in Euro Basket. Small sample, but he really really struggled. Yeah. And but that’s a that’s a more cramped game. A skinny guy like that. I I could see that he’s still so young. Uh, I don’t know Will Raleigh, but I talked to some teams who worked him out. Absolutely loved him. I’ve watched Trey Johnson since he was a high school player and watched him play for Team USA. Really liked him a lot. Uh, I think he can be very good. I don’t know George so well. I thought Whitmore had a chance to be really good the whole draft debacle and nothing’s really kind of come around since then. But, um, I mean, he’s in the right spot with Washington. It’s a good situation for him, I’d say. Yeah. And and you didn’t mention AJ Johnson, who was a a pick by the Bucks. I did not like him coming out. He is talented. I just think he’s a long way away. But but think about it, if they could just get a few of those pieces in play. By the way, I like Kiss. He’s not so young anymore, but I think he’s a fine role player. Uh if Chris Middleton could play well, you know, move him to a contender and get some for him. If you can make that happen, that would be great to see. All right, Sar. If Sar if if if I was like I like to think of it this way at year’s end if if if a happens then what’s next? Well, if Sar looks like he’s a keeper and Koula look keeper and any of the guys they drafted, especially Trey. All right, we got we got something cooking here. We got we got our our path forward. We know who’s going to be on the Billboard the following year in 2627. You know, those three guys that and and maybe it’s going to be other guys. Maybe it’ll be Bub. Maybe it’ll be George. It’s fair to It’s fair to say those guys have a chance also. Um or even Whitmore. I I like that. Uh and who was the third guy they drafted this year after Trey and um and Riley? Jir Watkins out of Florida State. Yes. So I know Jir well. Right. Right. My son. He were teammates at Florida State. I thought he was a very selfish player. Let me rephrase that. Not a selfish player. I didn’t think he cared about winning as much as he needed to. He wasn’t a ball hot. Uh, but it it without questioning my mind, he was an NBA player that didn’t have an NBA head. That doesn’t mean he can’t get one. It worked for him. He got paid a bunch of money in college. He got I think he got drafted. Um, and uh, but he’s an NBA player talent-wise for sure. And so they’ve got a number of young guys. You you can’t make them all stick. If they get two or three guys sick, especially the ones that were high draft picks like Bal and Alex and Trey, th those are young guys, very young guys. that that becomes okay, we know where the Wizards going to be down the road and that’s a win for them. Definitely. I mean, we’ll see if there’s a star in the mix here. I mean, I think that’s what one of this this season and the season after is about. Is Trey Johnson going to be one of the 30 best guys in the NBA or does he have a lane to be one of the 10 15 best? Does Alex Sar does the things click for him offensively to help complement his defense or does he remain kind of inefficient perimeter guy and just more of a a rim running screener and a highly versatile defender? But is there a is there a star here? Does Will Riley outperform his draft slot at 68 69 as a playmaking forward? Does his shot click? I don’t know if there’s a star here. If I’m betting on anybody, I’m betting on Trey Johnson just with his dynamic scoring ability and shooting ability. If his playmaking can get back to the level it was in high school and at an NBA version rather than being the shoot first, shoot second, shoot third guy he had to be for Texas last year, then maybe Trey Johnson has a chance. And I like him a lot as a kid, too. I interviewed him pre-draft at the Chicago draft combine. funny, mature, seems to understand his strengths and weaknesses, the things he needs to get better at. Um, so I like a player that has self-awareness, but again, no guarantee he’s actually going to be a star rather than just be a really good player, which I think he will be. And overall, this Wizards team, a lot of questions with them. I think they’ll be a team that people try to go out and like you said, trade for a Chris Middleton, trade for a CJ McCollum because it is open this year. You know, it’s the window is open for teams in the Eastern Conference. And I think a number of these teams in the Southeast, we’ve talked about Miami, Washington, teams are going to be trying to pluck their good pieces from them.
Can LaMelo Ball ACTUALLY be the centerpiece Charlotte needs?
Kevin O’Connor and David Thorpe break down the Hornets’ direction—Brandon Miller’s trajectory, Charles Lee’s impact, the rookie class—and whether LaMelo’s habits and availability match a max contract. Then they turn to Washington: who pops first in the rebuild—Tre Johnson, Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly or Will Riley—and is there a real future star on the roster?
If you’re Charlotte, do you double down on LaMelo—or pivot and build around Brandon Miller?
00:00 Can LaMelo be a true centerpiece?
01:29 Knueppel/McNeely upside
04:15 Is Brandon Miller a winner?
06:01 LaMelo’s deal
11:09 Wizards reset
13:40 Riley/Tre Johnson/Whitmore
16:46 East market
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