Fans Fear LaMelo Ball’s Potential Trade Request After $75M Teammate Calls Kon Knueppel Hornets "Best Player"

The LaMelo Ball trade rumors remain in the spotlight after the initial report from insider Kelly Iko suggested the Hornets' centerpiece was open to a trade amid frustrating results. Ball denied those rumors with a "clown" emoji tweet and publicly during his media availability session.

However, insiders Jake Fischer and Marc Stein have also confirmed the rumors since then. On Tuesday, Hornets forward Miles Bridges fueled the speculation by labeling rookie Kon Knueppel as the Hornets' best player this season amid Ball's struggles.

"He's been great for us. He's been our best player this year," Bridges said (via Hornets' reporter Rod Boone).

Rod Boone

@rodboone

Miles on Kon Knueppel: "He's been great for us. He's been our best player this year."

Knueppel is averaging 19.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 steals in 17 games. He's shot 49.1%, including 43.8% from 3 and 90.0% from the free throw line. On the other hand, Ball has averaged 21.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg and 9.3 apg, but struggled with his efficiency, making 39.3% of his shots, including a measly 28.6% from 3 on 9.1 attempts. He has also missed seven games.

Fans instantly felt this could rub LaMelo Ball the wrong way and feared that he might ask for a trade. Here's how they reacted to this comment:

therm.chewier_0r

@0rTherm57873

@UnderdogNBA @rodboone Damn, LaMelo is about to demand a trade then deny he did

Tyro Investing

@tyro_investing

@UnderdogNBA @rodboone Lamelo hates this comment

Animotica's Hoop Studio

@AnimoticaS

@UnderdogNBA @rodboone Another reason why the Hornets gonna trade Lamelo for Ja

Hope

@ncforchange

@UnderdogNBA @PensareBBall @rodboone I would trade Lamelo and Bridges

Hoop Narrative Podcast

@Hoop_Narrative

It’s a reason I don’t take Melo serious. The Hornets starting to realize it as well

Eye-Jay

@ij_andretti

lol seem like the players checked out on LaMelo too

Miles Bridges himself has struggled, too. Now in the second season of his three-year $75.0 million contract (according to Spotrac), he has averaged a team-high 22.0 ppg and played all games, but shot only 41.0%, including 34.2% from deep.

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Former Clippers star feels LaMelo Ball should head to LA

Former Clippers star Lou Williams considers LaMelo Ball to be a good fit with the team. The three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner believes Ball could flourish with veterans holding him accountable. Williams mentioned ex-teammate Kawhi Leonard as a mentor for the young guard who has yet to taste success.

"Put him around some vets, some guys that's gonna hold him accountable ...," Williams said on FanDuel TV on Tuesday. "Especially if you pair him with a Kawhi Leonard. Somebody he can look at and say, 'Hey that's a two-time champ right there. He kinda know what he got going on. That's a vet that I can listen to.'"

Run It Back

@RunItBackFDTV

. @TeamLou23 says Kawhi Leonard is the vet LaMelo Ball needs to take his next step on the Clippers 📈 "How about him being able to learn from Chris Paul?" - @ChandlerParsons "Got like 20 more minutes. Better hurry up and make this trade happen." - @MichelleDBeadle

LaMelo Ball is in his sixth NBA season, but has yet to lead the Hornets to the playoffs. He's been an All-Star once, and that's all his resume says for now. Nevertheless, he's only 25, so he can start fresh elsewhere.

The Hornets have had organizational issues from top to bottom for years, leading to their lack of collective success over the last two decades. There's uncertainty about whether they can put the right talent around him to achieve the desired results.