LiAngelo Ball, brother of LaMelo (and Lonzo) is doing his special again for us: like last year, he will join the Charlotte Hornets training camp where his little brother is evolving. Last year, it all ended in the G League. This year ? Surely the same.
It was perhaps his stats in the G League, with the Greensboro Swarm, that pushed the franchise to give him a chance: 4.6 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 13 minutes of play, we see that the kid worked. If that’s not it, let’s see his performances in the Summer League this summer: 6 points, 2 rebounds and 0.7 assists with the Hornets, the improvement is there. The Hornets surely wanted to reward the workaholic that he is, and saw in him a player capable of replacing Miles Bridges, still not tried for his domestic violence cases and who could therefore miss a certain number of matches. More seriously, we don’t really know what caught the eye of the Hornets, perhaps his 3-point address (36% at three attempts per game in the G League). Still, LiAngelo Ball will participate, like last year, in the Hornets training camp and that is not given to everyone.
Sources: LiAngelo Ball is signing a non-guaranteed deal with the Charlotte Hornets. Ball spent last season’s training camp with the Hornets as well, joining brother LaMelo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 26, 2022
“LiAngelo Ball will sign a non-guaranteed contract with the Charlotte Hornets. He had already evolved with his brother during the training camp last season. »
So if it’s not the sporting side, what drives the franchise to give him a chance every year, despite an obvious lack of qualities to evolve at the NBA level? Well the Hornets probably want to please their star, his most talented little brother in the family, LaMelo Ball. A bit like the Bucks with Thanasis Antetokounmpo, or the Bulls with Kostas, all to coax Giannis. The Bulls, well, wouldn’t this be the franchise of the eldest of the Ball siblings, Lonzo? The mystery deepens, but our expert investigators seem to have solved it. In the end, it’s quite simple. Let’s summarize:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a free agent in 2026.
- The Hornets give LiAngelo a chance every year. Appeased, LaMelo extends his contract in North Carolina.
- In 2026, Giannis liked the Bulls giving Kostas a chance. Free agent, he signs for them.
- To make room, Chicago has to slim down and sends Lonzo to Charlotte.
- The Bucks, after three titles in five years, are starting a new cycle. Lieutenant Jrue Holiday is sent to the Hawks, where he joins his brothers Justin and Aaron.
All the siblings are happy, LaVar Ball’s prophecy is fulfilled, LiAngelo plays for a minute and then is cut by the Hornets, whose long-term plan has worked: get Lonzo back to be his brother’s back-up.
LiAngelo is therefore only a pawn in the service of an overall strategy on the part of Michael Jordan and the Hornets to recover Lonzo Ball. He shouldn’t hit the courts before 2026, but it will already be a success for him. Go, on this, good evening to all.