Hornets don't want to build around Ball but can't find a franchise-changing trade.
As of December 15th, NBA teams are officially free to include recently signed players in trades, opening the door for trade rumors to start swirling all the way up to the trade deadline. The Charlotte Hornets find themselves in a perilous situation: unwilling to fully commit to LaMelo Ball as their centerpiece, yet unable to land a franchise-altering trade that would redefine the timeline.
The fact of the matter is that Ball is arguably the most talented player that Charlotte has ever drafted.