Lonzo Ball’s Time in Cleveland May Be Running Out - And Charlotte Could Be the Escape Hatch
The Cleveland Cavaliers swung big when they traded for Lonzo Ball. Coming off a 64-win season, they were looking to shore up two key areas: point-of-attack defense and second-unit playmaking after Ty Jerome’s departure.
On paper, Ball looked like the perfect fit - a high-IQ defender with the ability to run the offense in spurts. But halfway through the season, that plan hasn’t panned out.
Ball, who looked rejuvenated last year in Chicago, has struggled to find his rhythm in Cleveland. His shot hasn’t been falling, his defensive impact hasn’t been what the Cavs hoped for, and now, he’s been pushed out of the rotation in favor of Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder. That’s not just a basketball decision - it’s a financial one too.
Cleveland is currently $14 million above the second apron, and that’s a problem. Not only does it mean a massive luxury tax bill this season, but it also risks freezing their 2033 first-round pick due to the league’s new punitive tax rules. Translation: shedding Ball’s $10 million salary before Thursday’s trade deadline isn’t just a cap-clearing move - it’s a strategic necessity.
Enter the Charlotte Hornets.
Charlotte has $14.4 million in breathing room under the luxury-tax line and a full $14.1 million mid-level exception they haven’t touched. They’d have to clear a roster spot, but that’s not a major hurdle.
The more intriguing part? They’ve got LaMelo Ball - Lonzo’s younger brother and the centerpiece of a Hornets team that’s suddenly heating up.
According to reports, the Cavaliers and Hornets have already had preliminary discussions about a potential deal. While this would largely be a financially motivated move for Cleveland - maybe with a second-round pick or two attached - it could carry some deeper meaning for Charlotte.
Earlier this season, there were whispers that LaMelo and the Hornets might be headed for a breakup. But things have changed.
Charlotte has ripped off seven straight wins, climbed to 23-28, and now sit just one game behind Atlanta for the final play-in spot in the East. They’re playing their best basketball in years, and a move like this could signal a clear message to LaMelo: we’re building around you, and we’re serious about it.
Bringing in Lonzo wouldn’t just be about sentimentality - it could help on the court too. If he can rediscover even a portion of his Chicago form, he’d give Charlotte a savvy defender and secondary playmaker, someone who could complement LaMelo’s dynamic style rather than compete with it.
Of course, anytime the Ball brothers are involved, the conversation inevitably turns to the possibility of all three suiting up for the same team - the long-standing dream of their father, LaVar Ball.
LaVar’s been vocal about this vision for years. Back in 2017, right after Lonzo was drafted No. 2 overall by the Lakers, LaVar predicted all three sons would eventually team up in L.A.
A year later, he floated the idea of them joining forces through free agency. And in 2020, after LaMelo was drafted by the Hornets, he doubled down - saying if Charlotte brought all three brothers together, a championship would follow.
But don’t expect that prophecy to come true anytime soon.
LiAngelo Ball, the third brother, hasn’t played professionally since a stint with Astros de Jalisco in Mexico in 2024. He appeared in 31 games for the Greensboro Swarm, Charlotte’s G-League affiliate, but retired from basketball last August to focus on his music career. His song “Tweaker” found some success, and by all accounts, he’s moved on from the game.
So no, the full Ball trio probably won’t be taking the court together in Charlotte. But two out of three?
That’s a real possibility. And for a Hornets team clawing its way back into relevance - and a Cavaliers team trying to dodge the luxury tax hammer - it might just be a win-win deal waiting to happen.