RealGM Basketball Wiretap

26 April 2025

• LaMelo Ball Instructed By Charles Lee To 'Get Stronger' In Offseason

  Charles Lee delivered a clear mandate to Charlotte Hornets' franchise cornerstone LaMelo Ball during Monday's exit interviews, emphasizing the need for physical development heading into next season.

  "He's got to get stronger," Lee stated plainly when discussing offseason priorities for the 6-foot-7, 190-pound point guard. Lee noted that opposing teams regularly deployed more physical defensive strategies against Ball throughout the season, using hand checks on the perimeter and bodying him on drives to disrupt his effectiveness.

  Ball's defensive vulnerabilities were also exploited as teams frequently targeted him, attacking off the dribble and backing him down in the post. While Ball struggled with foul trouble early in the season, Lee acknowledged improvement in his defensive play as the year progressed.

  "Teams are trying to deny him, trying to be physical, and you can see early in the year when teams did it, it definitely bothered him," Lee explained. "As he got used to it, he got a lot more comfortable, so it's going to start with his body. He's got to get stronger and more conditioned to be able to play both sides of the ball and sustain efforts... When you're one of the best players in the league, you have to be ready for physicality."

  "I definitely agree," Ball said. "Just being in the weight room, and everything they're saying."

  Ball's availability remains the most pressing concern for Charlotte. Despite averaging a career-high 25.2 points this season along with 7.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds, Ball has participated in just 56% of the franchise's 410 games over his five NBA seasons due to persistent injuries, primarily involving his ankles and feet. His last three seasons have all concluded with surgical procedures.

  Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson characterized Ball's 47 games played this season as progress compared to the 36 and 22 appearances in the two previous campaigns. "Is it where we want it to be? No. Is it where he wants it to be? No," Peterson acknowledged. "LaMelo is an incredible competitor, and he knows that in order for us to have the best chance to win and get to where we want to go, he has to be on the floor."

  Peterson confirmed that Ball "absolutely" will be ready for training camp following surgeries on his right ankle and right wrist.

  Ball, represented by agent Sam Permut, remains under contract with the Hornets through the 2028-29 season after signing a five-year extension in 2023.

• Jaylen Sims, Hornets Sign 10 Day Contract

  The Charlotte Hornets signed Jaylen Sims to a 10 Day contract via the hardship exception. Because there is only one day left in the regular seasons, Sims will get one day of salary. The contract will expire upon completion of Sunday's regular season finale.

  Sims appeared in five games with the Hornets on his previous 10 Day contract. The 6-foot-6 wing averaged 6.0 points and 2.0 assists, while shooting 40% from three on his first 10 Day deal with Charlotte.

• Jaylen Sims, Hornets Sign 10 Day Contract

  The Charlotte Hornets signed wing Jaylen Sims to a 10 Day contract. Sims spent the bulk of the season with the Hornets G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.

  In 49 games with the Swarm, the 6-foot-6 wing averaged 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Sims shot 44% from the field, including 37.5% from behind the arc.

  Charlotte added Sims via a hardship exception. The Hornets have LaMelo Ball, Tre Mann, Brandon Miller and Grant Williams all out with season-ending injuries.

• LaMelo Ball Out For Season With Ankle, Wrist Surgeries

  LaMelo Ball will miss the rest of the season as he undergoes two minor procedures to address right ankle and wrist issues. Ball had played through pain in recent weeks before he and the team consulted doctors and determined these procedures will allow him to have a full and productive offseason.

  Ball has dealt with ankle injuries over recent years, missing at least 25 games in each of the past three seasons after playing a career-high 75 games in 2021-22.

  Ball finishes the season with averages of 25.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.9 rebounds in 47 games. Ball finished the first season of his five-year, $203.8 million contract extension with the Charlotte Hornets.

• Hornets Expected To Re-Explore Trade Market For Mark Williams

  The Charlotte Hornets are expected to re-explore the trade market for center Mark Williams this offseason. Rival executives believe Charlotte will look to trade Williams again, after the failed trade to the Los Angeles Lakers at the trade deadline.

  The Hornets and Lakers had agreed to a swap of Williams for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2030 first-round pick swap and a 2031 first-round pick. However, Los Angeles failed Williams on his physical and rescinded the trade. The Lakers reportedly found multiple concerns with Williams during their medical check.

  Since returning to Charlotte after the All-Star break, Williams has appeared in 12 of the team's 15 games. Prior to that, Williams had missed considerable time this season due to a foot issue. He also missed several games throughout each of his first two seasons due to various injuries, most significantly a back injury.

  Williams has one season left on his rookie scale deal at $6.3 million. He'll be extension-eligible this summer.

• Executives Monitoring LaMelo Ball Availability This Offseasn

  Executives around the league are monitoring the potential availability of LaMelo Ball this offseason, sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

  Luka Doncic's trade to the Lakers has expanded executive's horizon of which star could potentially get dealt next.

  Ball is currently in the first year of a five-year, $204 million deal. Ball is averaging 26.1 points and 7.0 assists per game this year.

  Mark Williams and Miles Bridges are two other Hornets players to watch this offseason. Bridges' three-year, $75 million contract is structured as descending in order to be used as a trade chip.

• Malachi Flynn, Hornets Agree To 10-Day Contract

  Malachi Flynn and the Charlotte Hornets have agreed to a 10-day day contract. Flynn is represented by Aaron Reilly.

  Flynn appeared in 69 games last season with the Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons, averaging 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 12.7 minutes. Flynn also scored 50 points in one late season game with the Pistons.

  Flynn is averaging 21.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 32.3 minutes over 28 games this season in the G League.

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