Overview
- Yahoo Sports reports Ball was benched for the final 4:32 of a 127-119 loss to the 2-13 Pacers, finishing 5-of-21 with six turnovers.
- League sources told Yahoo Sports the front office has grown disillusioned with the 24-year-old and is open to moving him rather than cementing him as a long-term cornerstone.
- Ball has played nine games due to a right ankle issue, recording career lows in field-goal percentage (.385) and 3-point percentage (.298) alongside a career-high 9.6 assists.
- He earns $37.9 million this season with roughly $130 million owed over the three years after 2025-26, a financial commitment potential suitors are expected to weigh with his availability concerns.
- Charlotte sits 4-11 and 12th in the East under a slower offensive system, with Cleaning the Glass showing the Hornets are +17.3 points per 100 possessions when Ball plays, while rookies Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner have been bright spots.