The Hornets have agreed to a five-year maximum contract extension with point guard LaMelo Ball worth up to $260 million, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The former All-Star was limited to just 36 games last season due to a fractured ankle, but when healthy has proven to be one of the league’s top guards. Ball is just one full season removed from his first All-Star appearance after averaging 20.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in the 2021–22 season.
Prior to his injury last season, Ball was averaging a career-high 23.3 points per game to go along with 8.3 assists per contest. Now locked in for the foreseeable future, the Hornets can build around a duo of Ball and rookie wing Brandon Miller as the franchise looks to remake itself under new ownership.
The Hornets were just 27–55 last season, which secured them the No. 2 pick in the draft lottery. Assuming Miller lives up to his potential as a prospect, Charlotte will have two franchise cornerstones at point guard and wing to boost the Hornets’ hopes for the future.
