By trading LaMelo Ball, Hornets risk alienating their fans
Nekias Duncan dive into why trading LaMelo Ball at this point is such a risky move for the Charlotte Hornets. Check out the full conversation on "The Dunker Spot" and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen .
Video Transcript
If you are going to make a trade like this where you are moving your face of the franchise and one of the most popular players in the NBA, period, you got to be right about it.
You have to nail this to this degree.
I am intrigued by the Nas Reed piece we have seen in previous seasons when he has been asked to start 16-8, 17-8.
I think within what Charlotte does philosophy-wise with the inverted actions, with the general off-ball movement of things, I think I was talking to a pal of mine yesterday.
It was like, do not be surprised if Nas Reed averages 20 a game next year.
With his skill level plus what Charlotte does offensively, that is not off the table.
I think he's going to help.
And circling back to our overall physicality portion, having someone that is as skilled as Nas Reed and as physical as Nas Reed, I think you do add a little bit more juice to the half court in a certain way.
But hey, you're going from LaMelo to committing to Kobe White as your full-time starter.
There is a playmaking gap between the two.
Who's going to be your draw two guy?
Is that going to be Nas picking at mismatches?
Is that going to be Brandon Miller continuing the growth that we saw last year inside the arc?
Does he become a guy that consistently draws two?
Is that going to be Con Knipple in any context?
We will see.
Because if you do not nail that, you risk, one, losing the trade.
But two, a fan base that was super into the Hornets, lost them, got them back.
It's kind of eh.
We got Kemba and Al Jefferson.
This is kind of eh.
Now we got LaMelo.
We just had a really good 2026.
Things look great with LaMelo and Con and Brandon Miller, and then we trade him.
You don't want to risk losing the fan base if this deal does not hit the way it does.
Now, I have been impressed with what the Charlotte front office has done over the past couple of years.
They have earned a level of benefit of doubt to me, and they do now have more pick equity.
They have a whole bunch of money to work with.
Very real chance that they end up building a more balanced roster and this ends up working out.
But they do need to do it if you are trading LaMelo, considering how much he means to the area.
