The Charlotte Hornets boast three of the NBA's best young talents in LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel, all former lottery picks, yet they sit at 16–27, on the verge of another missed postseason.
The latest miss came over the weekend at Chase Center, where the Golden State Warriors dominated Charlotte 136–116 in a game both teams needed to win.
But the subplot after the buzzer was anything but routine, as on Monday, Draymond Green publicly criticized Charlotte's coaching, accusing the team of "tanking" by managing Ball's minutes away.
“Apparently, they (NBA) are going to penalize tanking, and I would say great. That can’t happen fast enough because the Charlotte Hornets are a team that is tanking right in your face in plain sight.”
“The fact that they have LaMelo Ball coming off the bench, I found very interesting. They are a much worse team and so easy to guard when LaMelo’s not on the floor,” Green said.
“Like, why is there nothing to explain about that? LaMelo Ball is on a max contract. One of the young, talented guys in this league, and there’s nothing to explain about that? And so I saw that, and I was just like, that’s weird to me.”
Green's critique lands at a sensitive moment for the NBA. The league has spent the past months openly weighing new anti-tanking measures after a season that combined high-profile integrity questions with lingering concerns over late-season roster manipulation.
The situation takes on added significance because it revolves around Ball, whose trade rumors have surged in recent weeks amid another losing season and speculation that both he and other teams might seek a move.
Recent reports suggest Ball is unlikely to be moved before the February deadline but could be part of summer discussions, leaving his future uncertain.
Nevertheless, a star linked to possible off-season movement while coaches publicly alter his role magnifies the optics and fuels speculation about motive.
Ball, Miller, and Knueppel are cornerstone players, and the coaching staff has publicly described strategic usage plans designed to preserve durability and maximize performance.
However, star players receiving irregular treatment in competitive stretches, along with a string of other questionable coaching and managerial decisions, make the team easier to criticize.
Newsweek