![\"LaMelo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-22-3.21PM-edited.jpg\")
Charlotte Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball is averaging 21.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 9.6 assists per game. (Mandatory Credit: Jacob Kupferman\/Getty Images)<\/p>\nCharlotte Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball is averaging 21.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 9.6 assists per game. (Mandatory Credit: Jacob Kupferman\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
At least once every calendar year, a disgruntled star across the NBA arises. We were all too familiar with it with Jimmy Butler last year. <\/p>\n
On Thursday, Yahoo Sports\u2019 Kelly Iko reported<\/a> that Hornets star guard is open to be traded after another poor start in Charlotte. Ball immediately squashed those rumors publicly, but that wasn\u2019t stopping from many from firing up the trade machine.<\/p>\n According to Bleacher Report\u2019s Andy Bailey, one team that should be looking to acquire him is the Miami Heat.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, NBA media outlets are not contractually obligated to mention the Miami Heat every time a star potentially becomes available,\u201d Bailey wrote.<\/a> \u201cThey just come up often because the organization has so often gone star-hunting. And in this case, the star would fit pretty well.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have one of the league\u2019s best bigs in Bam Adebayo. And while pairing him with Tyler Herro theoretically gives Miami a strong inside-out duo, the Heat have typically been\u00a0worse<\/a>\u00a0with Herro on the floor in the playoffs. Whether Herro would be in the deal or not, adding Ball to lineups with Adebayo would give the big man a playmaker who thinks pass more often (even if Ball isn\u2019t a traditional pass-first 1).\u201d<\/p>\n Why Heat should not target LaMelo Ball:<\/p>\n Even after Ball\u2019s comments, Charlotte is reportedly<\/a> still willing to listen, even if they\u2019re not rushed to trade him.<\/p>\n However, the Miami Heat should not be one having interest.<\/p>\n While this isn\u2019t my biggest reason, the Terry Rozier situation still looms. Until there\u2019s resolution, Miami should not in any way, shape or form look to acquire any Hornets player \u2014 especially after it was hosed by the league<\/a>. We aren\u2019t privy to the conversations behind closed doors, but one could assume those two sides aren\u2019t on the best terms after Charlotte didn\u2019t warn Miami prior to the trade.<\/p>\n On the court, Ball, 24, hasn\u2019t proven himself to be a winning player.<\/p>\n He\u2019s incredibly talented. Ball is a terrific facilitator \u2014 one of the best in the NBA. Head coach Charles Lee has done a great job maximizing space around him, too. Ball takes care of the ball more than he used to, and he\u2019s also a very good rebounding guard. <\/p>\n But what the lanky guard has as a facilitator, he lacks between the ears.<\/p>\n Ball is still a very shaky decision-maker \u2014 especially with his shot selection \u2014 and is a poor defender despite racking up good steal numbers. He isn\u2019t physical nor does he move well enough laterally. Ball routinely gets snake bit on screens without the multiple efforts despite having good positional size.<\/p>\n The former No. 3 overall pick has never shot above 44 percent from the floor from his career. Not to mention, his 3-point percentage has decreased each of the last five seasons. We\u2019re still very early into the 2025-26 season, but he\u2019s shooting just 38.5 percent and 29.8 percent from deep with his lowest usage since 2022-23.<\/p>\n Ball\u2019s contract with his lack of availability also raises concern. He is in the second year of a five-year, $204 million extension. Beyond this year, he will have $40.8M, $43.6M and $46.4 million on the books. That equates to 24.6, 25.0 and 25.4 percent of the cap, respectively, according<\/a> to Spotrac.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a significant chunk for a player who\u2019s played just 43.6 percent of available games since his second year. <\/p>\n While Ball would accentuate the Heat offense, I think it would be in the Heat\u2019s best interest, hypothetically, to steer away. We know their ears perk up when a star becomes available, but this isn\u2019t the one they should target.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n To check out our other content, click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter\/X\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Check out Hot Hot Hoops on Facebook\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Subscribe to our YouTube channel\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n \t\t\t