JANUARY 12: Ball participated in this morning’s shootaround and is expected to return tonight, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
JANUARY 11: Hornets guard LaMelo Ball could return to action on Friday against the Spurs after missing over a month and a half due to a sprained ankle, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). Ball has been upgraded to questionable for the contest. He hasn’t appeared in a game since Nov. 26 against the Magic, when he left action after just 14 minutes.
Having Ball back is undoubtedly a major boost for a struggling Hornets team who sits at 8-27, 13th in the Eastern Conference. In the 14 games Ball was healthy for, the Hornets were 5-9 compared to 3-18 without him. Charlotte sits 9.5 games back on a play-in spot though, so they’d have to quickly catch up in the standings to have a shot at the postseason.
In his 14 healthy games this season, Ball averaged 25.9 points, 8.6 assists and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 38.9% from three on 9.4 attempts per game. His 15th game is the one in which he left due to his injury.
Additionally, guard Frank Ntilikina, who has missed the entire season with a leg injury, could make his season debut on Friday. Like Ball, Ntilikina was upgraded to questionable ahead of the contest against San Antonio, according to The Charlotte Observer’s Rod Boone (Twitter link).
The Hornets signed Ntilikina, the former eighth overall pick, to a minimum contract in the offseason. Ntilikina spent the first four seasons of his career with the Knicks before signing with the Mavericks in 2021. In six NBA seasons, the 25-year-old guard holds career averages of 4.8 points and 2.2 assists.
With both Ball and Ntilikina sidelined for a portion of the season, the Hornets primarily turned to Terry Rozier to take over primary point guard duties, often playing him alongside other guards like Bryce McGowens. Ball and Ntilikina both returning may spell fewer minutes for backup point guard veteran Ish Smith, along with McGowens or Nick Smith, with Rozier playing alongside Ball in the starting lineup.
He’s probably good enough to get them to the 10th seed
West is tough to win any seeds: Sun, Nuggets, Kings, Utahn all look strong tonight and last night .
Guess they’ll just cancel the playoffs then, if it’s gonna be too hard
The Hornets are ready for begin next season practices, because it’s look they are done for this year.
Charolette hopefully will not be cheap and sign all their players. Bridges is a must if they want to be a playoff team next year.
Trade Terry Rozier, PJ Washington and Bridges for Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, Clowney and a pick. Let Simmons sit. Waive Hayward, Thor and Bouknight. Sign Bazley, Warren and Danny Green. Start over fresh Charlotte management
Not feasible to do, and Bridges deserves to be stuck in Charlotte purgatory anyway. PJ is still young enough to keep around also.
What’s the point? Hornets are hopeless.