This Can’t be Right…

This Can’t be Right…

This can’t be right. As a major report just dropped revealing, LaMelo Ball wants out of the Charlotte Hornets and the Toronto Raptors are already linked to the Hornets star guard. Now, getting involved in the LaMelo Ball sweep stakes comes with an astronomical price tag. And while Lamelo Ball is a phenomenal talent, great at basketball, extremely skilled, this would be the riskiest move, more risky than any of the other rumors, any of the other updates we’ve heard. This would be an insanely risky move for the Toronto Raptors and something I’d be very hesitant to do as a front office. So, we’re going to break down these reports, how the Raptors have been linked already to this situation, and why trading for LaMelo Ball comes with very, very serious precautions. So, let’s dive into the report. So this is coming from Kelly Iiko revealing that following the Hornets disappointing road loss to the 2-13 Indiana Pacers, their fourth straight loss, dropping Charlotte to 12th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 4 and 11, star guard LaMelo Ball has grown in increasingly frustrated with the organization and is open to a trade away from the franchise. Multiple sources have told Yahoo Sports. He went on to say that leak sources say the front office is increasingly hesitant about cementing Ball as a long-term foundational piece and has become disillusioned with the 24year-old and open to moving him. Ball has appeared in just nine games this season due to a right ankle injury and despite Charlotte’s slow start, there have been few uh there have been a few bright spots this season, notably their rookies. Now, this is where a trade gets actually realistic because LaMelo Ball wants out and the front office is interested in trading it. Where do the Toronto Raptors come into play with all this? Because the Raptors right now, we take a look at it, they have been rolling. You know, this team is on an absolute tear right now. Second in the Eastern Conference, won nine of their last 10 games. What What’s going on with the Raptors getting linked to this situation? Well, we take a look at it and the first things first, basketball forever already revealed. The Raptors have been mentioned as a landing spot for LaMelo Ball if he was to be traded. So, you have that coming out. You have this article dropping from the Sporting News. The in Canada, you used to go to NBA.com. The Sporting News was the outlet it would directly lead you to. They had a partnership there. So, they have some interesting writers on that side, but they named the Toronto Raptors as a destination out there for LaMelo Ball, saying they’re a team in prime position depending on what the Hornets want back. Uh, the Raptors can offer any of Scotty Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Emanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett as a financial centerpiece. Again, you’re not trading Scotty Barnes, Brandon Ingram in one of these deals. If you do that, that’s a fireball offense out there. That’s a Nico Harrison style of offense, but and uh, you know, there are different different pieces. quickly or Barrett would headline a package of course and uh but if the fr Hornets want a franchise caliber player Ingram or Barnes could be discussed you’re not you’re not going down the direction but that’s what the sporting news is coming out and saying and old tweets and old reports are getting pulled back up this one from early on in the 2020s head of LaMelo Ballal’s draft class that uh the Raptors were linked and this is something I actually covered on the channel I looked back to my old video on it and gave it a watch but uh the Raptors were late this is like a real report I remember covering this but the Raptors were uh rumored to trade Kyle Lowry to Philly. Ben Simmons would go to Golden State and then the Raptors would try to move up and draft Lamelo Ball with the draft pick that ended up selecting James Wiseman. So that’s a rumored deal that was getting brought up and things like that. And then Bleacher Report has already linked these are getting shredded up about how a package involving Emanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett would bring LaMelo Ball to the Raptors. So, there’s already tons of reports linking LaMelo Ball to the Toronto Raptors, but does it make any sense for this Raptors team? The truth is this would be way too much of a risk for my liking. Why? Not because of LaMelo Ball’s talent. LaMelo Ball is phenomenal at basketball. The guy averages 22 points per game, seven rebounds, 10 assists this season. Again, the efficiency hasn’t been there that great, but the three-point percentage goes up and down tremendously with LaMelo Ball over the course of his career. This is nothing to do with this talent. And as much as Emanuel Quickley has won me over in recent weeks, I’d be delusional and I’d be lying to you to argue that, you know, Emanuel Quickley is the talent of LaMelo Ball. He’s two years older, 16 points, like less points, less assists, less all that. Emanuel Quickley is not at the level of LaMelo Ball. Let’s let’s you know talent-wise there’s no arguing that there. Where the risks really come into play is the injury situation. We see over the past four seasons LaMelo Ball has not been able to stay healthy in 22 23 played 36 games. Two seasons ago played 22 games out of 82 mind you 22 games. Last season only 47 games. and this year for the Hornets has uh already dealing with an ankle injury. So even though over the course of these seasons he’s put up phenomenal stats, he’s been very effective, especially on the offensive end for his teams, a great passer, great facilitator, good shooter, he has not stayed healthy. So that’s the first point. Then on top of it, the RA the Raptors will be paying him an astronomical amount of money over the next few seasons. 40 plus million dollars per year for a guy that is risking, you know, serious injuries season in season out. And you look at the Raptors roster, a lot of these guys have dealt with injuries in the past. The main one being Brandon Ingram, but having multiple serious injury risks out there on your team is just not good. Now, Ingram looks a lot more muscular this season, so hopefully that keeps him healthy, but we’ll see on that front. But LaMelo Ball is as injury risk as you can get. And then on top of it, you have to give up pieces in order to acquire LaMelo Ball in a vacuum. Great. Just insert him on the team, see if it works, see if it doesn’t. But you have to give up pieces. Personally, looking around, doing some reading, seeing what people are saying. I have no clue what his trademark would be. He’s a 24y old that puts up the stats that we just saw. LaMelo Ball is very, very good at basketball. Don’t get me wrong. But the Hornets have been while they have a great front office right now, they’ve been doing the right things, making the right moves. When that trade got vetoed from the the Hornets and the Lakers and Mark Williams, retrying to trade and when you lose your leverage, they got nothing basically in return for Mark Williams when they sent him to the Phoenix Suns. LaMelo Bal is killing his trade value here by requesting a trade. Now, he does have a lot of years on his contract, so there’s ownership there, but you might look at that as a negative salary. ownership has already it’s reported doesn’t want to keep him. So they don’t have a ton of leverage in that sense. But if he is LaMelo Bal screams to be someone that would be whine his way out of a city. So we’ll see how things play out. I put together this trade package because if you’re trading for Lamelo Emanuel Quickley has to be in that deal. I’m big on the don’t trade RJ Barrett bandwagon. So I did throw him into this package. But tossing an Oiabaji tossing in Jacobe Walter and a couple picks. I don’t know if this gets it done, but this is the I think the low end. And as a biased Raptors fan, I think it’s the low end in terms of a package I would actually get done. You’re you’re risking serious assets, serious pieces to acquire LaMelo Ball in this scenario. Now, you get the big talent upgrade, but you get more of an injury risk. And while I’m a big Jamal Shed fan, while I love this guy to death, you know, will he be able to step in? Maybe, maybe it gives Shed an opportunity. One thing as well that we discussed in this morning’s video, you AJ Lawson just went off for 27 in the G- League. Chucky Heburn has also gone off for 30. Elijah Martin there, the Raptors have some depth. They have some depth on this roster of guys that can step in if you deplete that wing talent. You get rid of Jacobe Walter, you get rid of Oiabachi, of course, you’d be flipping Emanuel Quickley out there for LaMelo Ball in these depth chart graphs. Like there’s a world where if you can get LMO ball healthy, bought in trying to play defense, it’s a 10 out of 10 victory, this type of trade. But the thing is, it feels very unrealistic that that will actually happen. And the Raptors right now are rolling. The vibes are great. And that’s one thing that has been huge for this team. We saw it with the Toronto Blue Jays. You know, the power of friendship. It got me to death. But the Raptors are really, really good right now. and bringing in a lamelo ball who’s only been on bad teams who comes across the public as immature. Would he fit what the Toronto Raptors are trying to do? What they look for in a player, a high character guy? I don’t know. Like, I don’t know the guy. Again, you do the people in the NBA and stuff maybe have a better feel for things like that. But it’s too much of a risk for me personally to really get on board with. But if it ended up happening, I’d be hoping for that upside and it could be a huge upside move for the Raptors. Let me know what you guys think about this potential LaMelo ball trade. Absolute insanity. You guys the best thing as far. Subscribe to the channel if you guys haven’t already. Anyways, I’m signing out.

The Toronto Raptors are once again linked to another star player trade as LaMelo Ball has requested a trade away from the Hornets and the Raptors have already been linked as a suitor. Ben Rogers breaks down the latest updates and what it means for the Raptors moving forward.

—

Raptors Digest is a YouTube Channel that covers all the latest news, trades, reports, and rumours regarding the Toronto Raptors. We provide comprehensive coverage on topics such as game highlights, player performances, and in-depth analysis of team strategies. Our channel features discussions on key players like Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Gradey Dick and Jakob Poeltl, as well as insights from Head Coach Darko Rajaković and General Manager Bobby Webster Stay tuned for all the exciting updates and engaging content on everything Raptors!

Have you ever wanted to break into sports media as a write or content creator? Apply to join the Digest Media team today here: https://digestmedia.ca/join-us/

Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnh_Q8aWS8PxQWGlodwlJaw/join

Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/MeVay9egPx

Follow the Raptors Digest on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/raptorsdigest/

Follow the Raptors digest on Twitter at:
Tweets by RaptorsDigest

for_digest_redistribution

—

LaMelo Ball Trade Update – Raptors Already Linked as Suitors

—

Toronto Raptors, Raptors, Raptors News,Toronto Raptors News, NBA Trade Rumors, NBA Free Agency, NBA Draft, NBA Finals Preview, Fantasy Basketball Advice, NBA Betting Odds, NBA Jersey Review, Player Performance Breakdown, Sports Analytics, NBA Highlights, NBA News Update, NBA Stats, NBA Roster Moves, NBA Predictions