As rare as it is for teams to be able to buy low on superstars on the trade market, the opportunity to make it happen suddenly rose earlier this week with LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets. It would be a gamble, because of his injury history, but one with minimal risk, given the LA Clippers could land the Chino Hills prodigy for John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Amidst a rough 4-11 start, Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball has grown increasingly frustrated with the organization and is open to a trade, league sources tell @YahooSports. https://t.co/UQOxO5Q3Tg
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) November 20, 2025
This package would not work for any other star in the league, even if it makes financial sense. Yet, if Kelly Iko’s report that Ball is frustrated in Charlotte is accurate, the Clippers have leverage to relocate the former third overall pick to a new home.
Hence, fans would love this trade for the Clippers. The cost of Collins and Bogdanovic is extremely low, and Ball would return to the district of Los Angeles, as the first electrifying star point guard since Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who everyone dearly misses.
The LA Clippers’ medical team will be forced to keep LaMelo Ball healthy
Part of the reason the LA Clippers’ medical team is elite is its location in the United States. Los Angeles has some of the world’s best resources to maximize player performance, and by pairing that up with the Clippers’ experienced team of professionals, it gives them the crown for the best staff in the league.
Before offering the Charlotte Hornets Bogdan Bogdanovic and John Collins, Lawrence Frank must meet with every member of the organization involved in training and medicine to ensure LaMelo Ball stays healthy for an extended period of time.
A majority of his injuries have been around his ankles, so the Clippers may need to bring in specialized doctors and different types of braces to help Ball thrive at his best without re-injuring the ankle he has already conquered.
However, it should be encouraging for Ball to see Kawhi Leonard still dominating despite his injury history, as well as each of Paul George’s, who bounced back from them all and took the Clippers to the Western Conference Finals.
Thus, he will already be under the impression that LA is the best fit for him in all regards.
That said, if and when Shams Charania officially reports on a trade request on Ball, the Clippers should be first in line, ready to make an offer their fans would be thrilled to see, and one the Hornets would be likely to accept.