Is there a world where we could possibly see LaMelo Ball playing in a Toronto Raptors uniform?
Though that situation may never come to fruition, the Raptors reportedly expressed trade interest in the supposedly disgruntled Charlotte Hornets point guard this past offseason. The 24-year-old, who has struggled to stay healthy early in his NBA career, was an All-Star back in 2022.
“Speaking of trade interest, the Toronto Raptors checked in on the availability of Ball over the summer,” NBA insider Michael Scotta of HoopsHype wrote.
Ball, who is currently out with an ankle injury he sustained against the Raptors earlier this month, is averaging 19.4 points through 16 games this season. The 2024-25 campaign, in which he was limited to 47 games, saw him average a career-high 25.2 points.
Though his point totals have dropped slightly this season, he’s currently averaging what would stand as a career-high 8.5 assists.
Ball, drafted third overall in 2020, has an extremely high skill set. The issue, at least to some, is whether or not he is fully committed to basketball. In fact, one NBA executive recently described the young guard as “so unserious.”
It’s tough to predict exactly what Ball’s trade value is, given not only his injury history but some of his antics. Regardless, it sounds as though Raptors management has expressed interest. It’s a situation fans should monitor should his relationship with the Hornets grow worse.
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