As the NBA’s regular season comes winding down, so does losing teams beginning to shut down their key players.
Zion Williamson, De’Aaron Fox, and LaMelo Ball are among some of the top names shutting down for the rest of the season. Whenever these situations do happen, many question whether or not their injuries are legitimate, or if they’re just trying to tank for a top pick.
On Friday, the Charlotte Hornets shut down LaMelo Ball for what was reported to be two minor procedures for wrist and ankle issues.
Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball will miss the rest of the season as he undergoes two minor procedures to address ankle and wrist issues, sources tell ESPN. Ball showed toughness, playing through pain in recent weeks, before he and team consulted doctors on best course forward. pic.twitter.com/PrpWrjaXuW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 28, 2025
Former Clippers legend Lou Williams that while it may be beneficial for the Hornets to shut down Ball to tank for Cooper Flagg, it’s likely a legitimate situation.
“I think it could be a little bit of both,” Williams said on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back show.. “You don’t have minor procedures and surgeries for stuff that’s not actually aching. So, if these are a couple of clean up things, you’ve gotta say that’s a legitimate thing that they’re concerned with his health moving forward.”
Hornets are shutting down LaMelo Ball to draft Cooper Flagg 🤯
“They got a legitimate reason to shut him down…they can put themselves in a better position to get Flagg, so by all means.” – @TeamLou23
“They’ve missed 9 consecutive playoffs…this is good.” – @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/V6CcUPFYpA
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 31, 2025
However, at the same time, Williams believes that the Hornets are probably trying to kill two birds with one stone when it comes down to shutting down Ball.
“Also, it could be great timing as well, put a few more lottery balls in that bowl for us to get an opportunity to get Cooper Flagg,” Williams said. “They got a legitimate reason to shut him down…they can put themselves in a better position to get Flagg, so by all means.”
The race for Cooper Flagg is here, and one would have to imagine that the Charlotte Hornets will be one of the leading candidates in it.
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