Charlotte Hornets Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Hornets’ LaMelo Ball Re-Injures Left Ankle, Out At Least Friday

November 17th, 2022 at 1:09pm CST by Rory Maher

NOVEMBER 17: Ball did not practice on Thursday and will not play on Friday versus Cleveland, tweets Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer.

“We’ll be without him here,” head coach Steve Clifford said. “I don’t think we have any idea how long.”

Clifford also told reporters that Ball had an X-ray after Wednesday’s game, which came back negative.

NOVEMBER 16: Point guard LaMelo Ball, who just made his 2022/23 regular season debut on Saturday, re-injured his left ankle late in Wednesday’s loss to Indiana and did not return, the Hornets announced (via Twitter).

According to the Hornets, Ball suffered a left ankle sprain — the same injury that caused him to miss the team’s first 13 games. He initially injured his ankle in preseason and it was fairly serious, since it was a Grade 2 sprain.

A first-time All-Star last season, Ball averaged 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 1.6 steals on .429/.389/.872 shooting in 75 games (32.3 MPG). While he had to shake off some rust in his first two games back this season, he was having a big night Wednesday prior to the injury, recording 26 points and six assists in 37 minutes.

After making the play-in tournament in each of the past two seasons, the Hornets have struggled early on in ’22/23, with Wednesday’s loss dropping their record to 4-12. In addition to Ball, Terry Rozier (ankle), Cody Martin (knee surgery) and Gordon Hayward (shoulder) have all had extended injury absences, and backup point guard Dennis Smith Jr. has missed the past two games with his own left ankle sprain (Twitter link).

If Ball and Smith miss more time with their ankle sprains, Theo Maledon and James Bouknight should see an increase in minutes.

Southeast Notes: Clifford, Ball, Banchero, Collins

November 14th, 2022 at 7:52pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Hornets head coach Steve Clifford believes the team can dispel the notion of being soft once it overcomes injuries, he told Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer.

“I think that we are very much viewed as a finesse offensive team and I think there is a lot of toughness here. … When we have everybody healthy we are going to be a team that plays with a lot of physicality,” he said. “I don’t see any reason why we can’t be good at all those energy effort areas. Defensive rebounding, defensive transition, keeping the ball out of the paint, being good at loose balls, being good at screening. I don’t see why we can’t do that. So I think that for me is a real positive.”

We have more from the Southeast Division:

Hornets star LaMelo Ball struggled with his shooting and committed five fouls in his season debut against Miami on Saturday. Still, Ball – who had 15 points, six rebounds and six assists – was just happy to get back in action, according to Boone. “I feel straight,” Ball said. “More games, it will get easier. So, I think I’m in a good spot.”
The top pick in the draft, the Magic‘s Paolo Banchero, missed his third consecutive game on Monday due to a left ankle sprain, Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel tweets. Banchero was off to a sparkling start to his NBA career before suffering the injury. He’s averaging 23.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
After scoring 20-plus points in his first two games, Hawks forward John Collins has averaged 10.4 points in his last 11. Collins said it’s just a matter of touches, Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports. He has taken 10 or fewer shots in seven of his last nine games. “I definitely feel like I can shoot the damn ball,” Collins said. “But, you know, sometimes it’s just hard to get a rhythm. I feel like my rhythm might be just a little bit off, but I’m respecting the game and trying to continue to stay in the gym and shoot and not really think too much about it.”

Scotto’s Latest: C. Johnson, Washington, G. Williams, Reddish, White

November 14th, 2022 at 9:00am CST by Arthur Hill

The Suns discussed a rookie scale extension with Cameron Johnson that would have been worth about $66-72MM over four years, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype said on his latest podcast. Scotto points out that those figures are in line with recent contracts for shooters such as Davis Bertans, Joe Harris and Duncan Robinson, but there’s a belief that Johnson can earn more considering the expected rise in the salary cap and his role on a contending team.

Johnson was off to a great start, averaging 13.0 points per game and shooting 43.1% from three-point range, before undergoing meniscus surgery that could sideline him for up to two months. Scotto notes that Phoenix gave Mikal Bridges a four-year, $90MM extension and cites league sources who have told him the team doesn’t want to approach that number to keep Johnson.

On the same podcast, Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype said Johnson will be in demand as a restricted free agent, even if he doesn’t make a full recovery during the season. He notes that Collin Sexton received $72MM over four years after missing nearly an entire season with a meniscus tear and suggests that Johnson will get at least that much. Gozlan adds that Johnson is much easier to trade without an extension and wonders if that was the Suns’ plan all along.

The duo discussed several other players who are headed to restricted free agency:

The Hornets were offering P.J. Washington a four-year extension in the $50-52MM range, but he’s hoping for an annual salary closer to $20MM, sources tell Scotto. Washington has become a full-time starter with the loss of Miles Bridges and is averaging a career-high 14.6 points and 1.1 blocks per game. Gozlan believes Washington made the right decision, noting that the mid-level exception will soon be in the range of Charlotte’s offer.
The Celtics never offered Grant Williams more than $50MM in guaranteed money over four seasons, according to Scotto, who adds that Williams would have accepted a deal that paid him at least $14MM a year. Williams’ hot start puts him in line for a much bigger contract, and some sources tell Scotto he’ll get an offer starting in the $18MM range, which might be too high for Boston to match.
The Knicks didn’t have serious extension talks with Cam Reddish, but he has a chance to change his outlook after moving into the starting lineup, Scotto notes. Gozlan expects Reddish to get full MLE offers next summer if he keeps producing.
Coby White has become a trade candidate for the Bulls, NBA executives tell Scotto. White’s production continues to fall and he doesn’t appear to have a future in Chicago’s backcourt.

Cody Martin's Injury Prevents Matchup With Twin Brother

November 12th, 2022 at 9:52pm CST by Arthur Hill

Caleb Martin was looking forward to facing his twin brother as the Heat and Hornets met twice in three days in Miami, but an injury changed those plans, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Cody Martin has played just one minute this season because of a knee injury, and Charlotte announced Friday that he had an arthroscopic procedure. He’ll reportedly miss approximately six weeks. “It’s tough on him, man,” Caleb said. “He’s obviously like me in terms of competing and wanting to be out there and contributing. It’s hard for him to need to sit out and watch other guys play.”

LaMelo Ball May Make Season Debut On Saturday

November 12th, 2022 at 10:50am CST by Luke Adams

Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball, who has been sidelined for the entire regular season so far due to a left ankle sprain, is being upgraded to questionable for Saturday’s game in Miami, league sources tell Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer (Twitter link). The Hornets have since confirmed Ball’s new designation (Twitter link).

While that doesn’t mean Ball is a lock to play tonight, Boone says there’s a possibility the point guard will be able to make his season debut vs. the Heat. If Ball is ultimately ruled out for Saturday’s game, his next opportunity to make his return would come on Monday in Orlando.

A first-time All-Star in 2021/22, Ball averaged 20.1 points, 7.6 assists, and 6.7 rebounds per game in 75 starts (32.3 MPG) for the Hornets, with a shooting line of .429/.389/.872. He sustained his ankle injury during a preseason game on October 10 and was diagnosed with a Grade 2 sprain the following day.

In Ball’s absence, Terry Rozier has taken on more ball-handling responsibilities and Dennis Smith Jr. has become a key part of Charlotte’s rotation. Smith, who came to training camp on a non-guaranteed deal, was expected to provide some depth behind Ball at the point, but has instead started 11 of 13 games and averaged nearly 30 minutes per night, putting up 10.2 PPG, 6.2 APG, and 3.6 RPG.

The Hornets have lost their last seven games and are now 3-10 on the season, so getting Ball back in the lineup will be crucial if they want to turn things around and vie for a playoff or play-in spot.

Hornets Minority Stakeholders Open To Selling

November 12th, 2022 at 7:56am CST by Luke Adams

Gabe Plotkin and Daniel Sundheim, who own a minority stake in the Hornets, are open to selling a “sizable portion” of their share, Begley reports in the same story. Michael Jordan‘s stake in the Hornets would not be affected if the team’s minority shareholders were to sell most or all of their portion of the franchise.

[SOURCE LINK]

Cody Martin Out Approximately Six Weeks Following Knee Procedure

November 11th, 2022 at 4:13pm CST by Luke Adams

4:13pm: The Hornets confirmed in a press release that Martin underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a “cartilage issue.” He will be reevaluated in four weeks.

1:41pm: Hornets forward Cody Martin has undergone an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee and is expected to be sidelined for approximately the next six weeks, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Martin had been on the shelf since the team’s regular season opener, having played just a single minute in that game. Although his injury was being referred to as left quad soreness, Martin missed all but one preseason game while recovering from left knee tendinopathy and head coach Steve Clifford mentioned that knee after the veteran went down in the opener.

It’s a disappointing turn of events for Martin, who enjoyed a mini-breakout season in 2021/22 as a key reserve in Charlotte, averaging 7.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 2.5 APG on .482/.384/.701 shooting in 71 games (26.3 MPG). His contributions earned him a four-year, $31MM+ commitment from the Hornets when he became a restricted free agent this past summer.

The Hornets have been hit hard by the injury bug so far this fall. Starting point guard LaMelo Ball hasn’t seen the floor since the season began due to an ankle sprain, while Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward have also missed time due to injuries.

Rozier is back in the lineup now and there’s hope that Ball and Hayward won’t be out much longer, but it appears the team will have to get by without Martin until sometime around Christmas. As long as he’s unavailable, the Hornets figure to lean heavily on starting forwards P.J. Washington and Kelly Oubre, with Jalen McDaniels also seeing significant minutes off the bench.

Ball Remains Out Of Action

November 7th, 2022 at 5:17pm CST by Dana Gauruder

While there has been growing optimism that LaMelo Ball will soon make his season debut, it won’t happen on Monday night. The team’s PR department lists him as out for the Hornets’ contest against Washington (Twitter link).

Ball suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain in a preseason game on October 10. Hornets forward Gordon Hayward (left shoulder contusion) also remains out of action.

Oubre Excited For Ball's Return

November 6th, 2022 at 7:12pm CST by Dana Gauruder

LaMelo Ball could return this week from the left ankle sprain that has sidelined him since late in the preseason. His Hornets teammates are excited at the prospect of having their floor leader back, Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer writes. “Super excited, super anxious,” Kelly Oubre said. “I tell him every day I miss him on the court. You know, he’s another element to our team that is through the roof. You can’t put a matchup on him.”

Hornets Respond To Bridges Plea Deal

November 5th, 2022 at 8:12am CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of news that restricted free agent Miles Bridges has agreed to a plea deal and will be sentenced to three years of probation, the Hornets released the following statement on Thursday (via Twitter): “We are aware of today’s developments regarding Miles Bridges’ legal situation. We will continue to gather information before determining any potential next steps. Until then, we will have no additional comments.”
With Bridges’ case settled, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report considers whether or not the Hornets will move forward with a deal for the RFA forward. As Pincus observes, the NBA’s history suggests that it’s probably only a matter of time before Bridges returns to the court, despite the horrific allegations against him. If and when he officially signs a contract, the league would have the option of suspending him based on its findings in his domestic violence case.