With the NBA Finals now complete, the league’s attention has shifted to the trade market and the upcoming NBA Draft. For struggling franchises like the Charlotte Hornets, the draft is especially critical as they look to rebuild from a disappointing season.
The Hornets hold the No. 4 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. As teams across the league continue to evaluate prospects through private workouts, Charlotte finds itself in an unexpected bind.
According to the Barlowe Podcast, the Hornets have had difficulty bringing in top-tier prospects for pre-draft workouts. Notable names like Ace Bailey and VJ Edgecombe reportedly declined to work out for Charlotte. So far, Kon Knueppel is the only top-seven prospect confirmed to visit the team.
The Hornets have had a difficult time getting top prospects in for pre-draft workouts, per @Barlowe500 (https://t.co/bHqdswtav9).
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 23, 2025
Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe and others didn’t workout for Charlotte.
Kon Knueppel is the only prospect in the top-seven range confirmed to visit them. pic.twitter.com/tPH8ZFxQaS
This reluctance may not be random. It could be tied to the presence of the Hornets’ current franchise centerpiece, LaMelo Ball. Before these workout refusals, Mike Lacett reported that one lottery prospect specifically declined a session with Charlotte because he didn’t want to play alongside LaMelo Ball.
Shams Charania Says Charlotte Hornets Could Listen To LaMelo Ball Trade Offers
Amid this uncertainty, ESPN’s Shams Charania joined The Pat McAfee Show and shed light on the swirling trade rumors surrounding LaMelo Ball. While no deal is imminent, Shams shared that the Hornets might be open to offers, given their recent lack of success.
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“If you are Charlotte, you are coming with back-to-back seasons with not much winning. I am sure they are open to a lot. I haven’t heard anything definitive on LaMelo Ball as of yet. But this is that period of time. This week, next week. We are going to see a lot of rumors. Listen, if a team calls the Hornets and makes a massive offer or makes a real push for LaMelo. If you are the Hornets, you have to be all ears at that point,” Shams said.
LaMelo Ball was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and has steadily developed into a cornerstone talent. Last season marked the best year of his career so far. Ball averaged 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. Despite his individual success, the team has failed to make meaningful progress in the standings.
