Charlotte Hornets and LaMelo Ball agree to $260 million extension. Is he worth it?
With their star’s future now settled, the Hornets can look toward building a competitive roster around him which includes the No. 2 overall pick, Brandon Miller.
Though like his brother he has seen his career hindered by injuries, the prospects for the Hornets star look a lot better going forward. Indeed, that has now been acknowledged by the hefty extension that the franchise has offered him.
LaMelo Ball agrees to massive extension with Charlotte Hornets
According to recent reports, LaMelo Ball has put pen to paper on a five-year, $260 million contract extension with the Charlotte Hornets. Ball was of course up for a rookie-scale contract extension, however, he was granted the full max which now ties him to the Hornets for the considerable future.
On the other hand, it should be said that it’s quite a turnaround for a player that only played 23 games last season due to injury. That’s not to say that Ball’s game is in question. When he’s fit, the 21-year-old has been one of the NBA’s most exciting guards. His average of 23.3 points per game - a career high - is a testament to that fact. Sadly, Ball’s most recent campaign was brought to a halt by a fractured ankle It will be interesting to see how he takes to the court once again. After all, we’re talking about a player who was named Rookie of the Year and was then included on the All-Star in only his second season in the league. At this point, one has to believe that the Hornets will be looking to make headway in the postseason, a place they haven’t been in quite some time.
So, LaMelo Ball is good but can he stay healthy?
That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? In the three years that he’s been in the league, he’s missed considerable time due to injury. There were 20 games that he sat out during his maiden campaign with a fractured wrist and now his ankle. To date, he has been able to ease back into the swing of things with little issue, but one has to wonder if that will continue to be the case. Regardless, there is no doubt as to how good he is when on the court. A versatile player who is a scoring threat from any distance, Ball has also demonstrated an incredible repertoire of passes, as well as an ability to crash the boards for rebounds. Some may criticize his defense, but if the Hornets can surround him with defensive-minded players, they will reap the benefits. At this point, we can only wait and watch but something tells us that it’s going to be worth it.