With trade season officially underway, the Toronto Raptors have reportedly thrown their hat into the ring for one of the NBA’s most electric young guards: LaMelo Ball.
According to league sources, Toronto reached out to the Charlotte Hornets this past summer to gauge their willingness to move Ball. And while nothing materialized at the time, the Raptors’ interest speaks volumes - not just about their ambitions, but about how Ball is viewed across the league, even amid a rocky stretch.
Let’s talk about that stretch. Ball’s 2025 campaign has been a stop-and-start affair, thanks to ankle and knee issues that have cost him nine games so far.
And when he’s been on the floor, he hasn’t quite looked like the All-Star version of himself. He’s averaging 19.4 points per game - his lowest mark since his rookie season - while shooting just 38.6% from the field and 28.5% from deep.
For a player known for his flair and offensive creativity, those numbers are a step back.
But context matters here. Ball has battled injuries throughout his young career.
Last season, he missed 35 games with an ankle injury, and over the past two seasons combined, he’s only suited up for 58 total games. That’s a tough pill for any franchise, especially one like Charlotte that’s been trying to build around him as the face of the franchise.
Still, when healthy, Ball’s talent is undeniable. A 2022 All-Star, he’s averaged 20.9 points, 6 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game over his career - numbers that speak to his all-around impact. He’s a true offensive engine, capable of creating for others and himself, and when his shot is falling (career 35.9% from three, 84% from the line), he’s a nightmare to defend.
Financially, any team looking to acquire Ball would need to be ready to commit. He’s in the first year of a five-year, $203.5 million rookie extension he signed with Charlotte in 2023, which pays him over $37.9 million this season.
That kind of salary means any trade would require significant outgoing contracts to match - and for the Raptors, that likely means including one of their big-ticket guards, either Immanuel Quickley or R.J. Barrett.
Toronto is currently over the cap, so matching salaries is a must. But beyond the financial gymnastics, the basketball fit is intriguing.
The Raptors sit third in the Eastern Conference at 16-11, trailing the conference-leading Pistons by 5.5 games. Adding a dynamic playmaker like Ball could supercharge their offense and give them a true lead guard to orchestrate the attack.
Of course, it’s all hypothetical for now. But with December 15 marking the unofficial start of NBA trade season - the date when most recently signed players become trade eligible - the rumor mill is only going to get louder. And if the Raptors are serious about making a move, LaMelo Ball would be a bold swing.
High risk? No doubt.
But the upside? That’s the kind of gamble that can reshape a franchise’s trajectory.