LaMelo Ball has arguably risen to be the most popular of the Ball brothers. Of course, LaVar Ball should be given a huge shout-out for turning the Ball family so famous. But even so, LaMelo has made a name for himself as a valuable point guard and it’s not solely because of his father. However, the Ball boys seem to have an unhealthy relationship with injuries. His eldest brother, Lonzo Ball, practically had his body give up on him. It’s been close to 2.5 years since he set foot on a basketball court.

As for LaMelo, the Charlotte Hornets announced in late January that a right ankle tendinopathy would sideline him for the rest of the last season. While he didn’t sustain anything as serious as his elder brother, injuries seem to be a constant in their lives. With the 2024-25 season coming up, the Hornets have already made some serious changes around the team.

While Melo was resting and rehabbing, Brandon Miller, Charlotte’s rookie, has risen as a player to look out for. Nearly all talking heads and media veterans are urging the ‘Queen City’ to build a new team around the 2023-24 third-placed ROTY. But basketball and NBA analyst for The Athletic, Seth Partnow believes LaMelo Ball could still become a cornerstone of the North Carolina franchise.

Joining ESPN veteran, Zach Lowe, in the latest episode of The Lowe Podcast, Partnow remarked that LaMelo could play a more standard style of basketball. Lowe wanted more clarity on what exactly this ‘standard style’ entailed.

“More ball movement less, as you say, the highlight passes, and the pull up 30 footers. And sort of almost get back to like the Ball family sort of origin story. Less of the sort of the Chino Hills run and gun, which was effective and gave both of those brothers a ton of on-ball reps, which served them well as a development purpose,” Partnow detailed.

Well, it is sound advice. Considering how things are reshaping in the Hornets, LaMelo Ball might want to be careful going ahead.

LaMelo Ball or Brandon Miller? Co-exist or stand-alone?

One aspect that Zach Lowe pointed out in his podcast was something many critiqued the past Hornets management. “[The] ownership, new coach, new front office, [they’re] not pot committed to LaMelo Ball in the same way that the predecessors were.” And he wouldn’t be wrong.

The Alabama product, as mentioned earlier, has already been turning heads. Moreover, his style of play has drawn comparisons to NBA greats Paul George and Kevin Durant, as well. In fact, PG expressed his admiration for the 21-year-old, further solidifying it with a jersey swap after the Clippers win over the Hornets on Easter Sunday. He stepped up in a big way and did particularly well after LaMelo went down with an ankle injury.

Take a look at his stats before Ball’s injury – average of 15.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. What about after? Miller averaged 19.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 37 games. Not to mention, out of the 74 games, he was a starter in 68. In stark contrast, the franchise star guard hasn’t played in more than 51 games except for the second season, where he played in 75.

Comparing LaMelo’s rookie season to Brandon’s might not provide a complete picture, either. But it does provide some insight. Having played in 51 games, Ball averaged 15.7 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds. Miller, for his part, ended the season with a stat line of 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. But the one-time All-Star won the 2021 ROTY while the Tennessee native, as mentioned above, finished third.

There is the option of letting the two play together. One is just 21, and the other is only 22. They have every incentive to simply build a team around the two. But as Lowe pointed out, the Hornets management isn’t the same as before. So, if the decision-makers feel like keeping LaMelo Ball around wouldn’t benefit them in the long run, the chances of trading him when they can get the best value would look like a viable scenario.

Let’s just say there are a few matters to give much thought to before the start of the 2024-25 season.