After yet another tough season that saw the Charlotte Hornets miss the playoffs for the ninth consecutive year, general manager Jeff Peterson gets a prime opportunity to improve the roster thanks to having the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
However, the Hornets are experiencing some early challenges this offseason. According to Mike Lacett of Carolina Sports Live, a top NBA Draft prospect has refused to work out for the Hornets, apparently due to the presence of LaMelo Ball.
“Spoke with a source tonight who told me at least one draft lottery pick refused to work out with the Hornets out of a desire not to play with LaMelo Ball.”
Mike Lacett on Charlotte Hornets
Unfortunately, no other details are provided by Lacett. It doesn’t say whether this prospect has a specific issue with Ball or really anything.
While on the surface, this feels like someone who could have an issue with Ball, it could be as simple as the prospect being a fellow point guard. In that case, the prospect could be receiving advice from his agent, trying to sway the opinion of the Hornets away from drafting the possible point guard due to the presence of Ball, a one-time All-Star.
It’s not all that uncommon for prospects who play the same position as an already established starter to try avoiding getting drafted by a specific team, and that could be exactly what’s taking place in Charlotte. Yet, the more interesting story would be if a prospect did have some sort of issue with Ball, though without further context, there’s just nothing to suggest that is true.
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Sports fan since birth. I am also passionate about cars, music, and anything funny. Minnesotan, born and raised. Maybe ... More about Andrew Buller-Russ