Fans of the Charlotte Hornets aren’t having an easy time. Their team is the 14th seed in the Eastern Conference right now. But if that wasn’t bad enough, they lost to the bottom seed, Washington Wizards. And if certain rumors about LaMelo Ball are to be believed, things may be getting a lot worse for them.

But they’ve got other things to worry about right now. Namely, their upcoming game against the top seed team in the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers. And the Hornets will need all hands on deck to even stand a chance against the best team in the East. So, let’s see what the injury report says as the Hornets gear up to face Donovan Mitchell’s Cavs.

Charlotte Hornets injury report – will LaMelo Ball play against the Cleveland Cavaliers?

The number of players listed on the Charlotte Hornets‘ injury report is frankly worrying. But let’s tackle the most pressing subject first. LaMelo Ball is on the injury report for the Cavs game tonight. But the good news is he’s only listed as PROBABLE. That means he’s most likely to play against the Cavs even if he does have an illness, according to the report. His teammate Josh Green is also PROBABLE with an illness that’s not listed on the report.

Here are the other players who are on the injury report for the Hornets:

• Brandon Miller – OUT (Right Wrist; Ligament Repair)
• Jusuf Nurkic – PROBABLE (Low Back; Tightness)
• Josh Okogie – OUT (Left Hamstring: Strain)
• KJ Simpson – OUT (G-League; Two-Way)
• Nick Smith Jr. – PROBABLE (Right Quad; Contusion)
• Grant Williams – OUT ( Right ACL; Repair)
• Mark Williams – OUT (Left Foot; Injury Management)

Told you they had a lot of players on the report. But the ones they’ll miss most are the duo of Brandon Miller and Mark Williams. Miller has started every game he’s played this season and averages 21 points for the Hornets. On the other hand, Mark Williams has been great for them ever since his ill-conceived trade to the Lakers. He leads the Hornets in rebounds, and they’ll miss his imposing presence under the rim against the Cavs.

Hornets fans hope that Nick Smith, LaMelo Ball, and Josh Green can get fit in time to play against the Cavs. Otherwise, it might be a bloodbath against the top-seeded team tonight.

Now, onto what we alluded to earlier. We did say the Hornets have concerns about LaMelo Ball that supersede his injury status. So allow us to give you the full picture.

LaMelo Ball trade rumors cause alarm within the Hornets fanbase

Let’s cut right to the chase: LaMelo Ball is clearly disenchanted with the Charlotte Hornets right now. And it’s not hard to see why. He’s playing some of the best basketball of his career. But it’s being wasted at the Hornets as they languish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

Per NBA insider Michael Scotto, Melo has become one of the top names to watch on the trade market this season. “Following the Luka Doncic trade, NBA executives around the league have expanded their horizons on which potential stars could be next to change teams. The availability of Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is one of the stars several executives who spoke with HoopsHype will be monitoring on the trade market this summer,” said Scotto in his report.

Minnesota seems to be the most interested in making a move for Ball this summer. And if you ask us, a LaMelo Ball-Anthony Edwards team-up is a tantalizing prospect for us fans and a worrying one for every head coach in the league. The Timberwolves have been looking to add more starpower to their team ever since losing Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks this season.

However, before you Hornets start pulling your hair out in frustration, just remember one thing. These are only rumors. They’re meant to be taken with a pinch of salt, no matter how legitimate the source is or how alarming the news gets. After all, if a trade like Luka Doncic to the Lakers can stay under wraps, anything can happen!