LaMelo Ball will be eligible for a contract extension this offseason following a disappointing third season with the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets were in the play-in in 2021 and 2022, but finished with the NBA’s fourth worst record this season.
When asked Monday about his long-term future in Charlotte, Ball said he “plays it by the day.”
“I love it here,” said Ball, who is from California. “I can’t really tell the future. We’ll just see how it goes and go from there.”
“He badly wants to win,” Clifford said of Ball. “… When you’re at his level, there are certain expectations. You’re going to be compared to the other point guards his age that have had not incredible playoff success but have had some.
“It’s important to his career.”
As for Clifford’s comments about it being critical for the Hornets to start winning to keep him here, Ball replied: “For sure. The main thing is winning. Life if better when you win.”
The Hornets have a projected $39 million in salary cap space entering free agency and will also have a high lottery pick.