LaMelo Ball is one of the most polarizing stars in the NBA, but if the Miami Heat could pry him away from the Charlotte Hornets at the right price, the lure of adding a player as talented as he is could be too much for the team to pass up.
And now that the Hornets are reportedly open to listening to offers for Ball, it's something that the Heat must at least have a conversation about.
Considering the Heat are always on the hunt for the next star, if Ball were to hit the trade block, it would be foolish for the team to ignore the possibility. If the Heat truly trusts their culture, especially more than perhaps any other franchise in the league, why wouldn't they be open to acquiring a 24-year-old playmaking star guard with plenty of upside?
In a vacuum, the thought of adding a 6-foot-7 playmaking star guard with untapped potential has to be an appealing one for the Heat. Again, with one of the best developmental programs in the league, if there's one organization that is going to get the best out of Ball, it's probably the Heat.
In theory, it's a big risk. Despite the talent, there are fair questions about Ball as a star player in this league, most of which revolve around his durability and his defensive tendancies. At the same time, the Heat should believe in their culture and, to a greater extent, head coach Erik Spoelstra.
There's a part of the Heat fan base that has to think that if the front office gives Spo a star-level talent, he will only find ways to maximize said talent even more. In many ways, Ball could be the ultimate test for that.
At this point in his career, Ball's career is trending in the wrong direction. He'd be somewhat of the ultimate reclamation project for the Heat. Ball's immensely talented, but also incredibly flawed.
What will LaMelo Ball's asking price be?
Utlimately, I'd still bet against the Heat making a move for Ball. However, for the right price, it would only make sense for Pat Riley to sniff around and do his due diligence on the All-Star talent.
That's what this could possibly come down to. What will the Hornets be asking for? Will they be outrageous in their demands, asking for a young blue-chip player and multiple first-round picks? If that's the case, the Heat's conversations with the Hornets won't advance much, if at all.
However, if the Heat could get Ball for the expiring contracts of Norman Powell or Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, and a draft pick or two? Then you'd be talking. It's at that point that the Heat would have to have serious internal conversations about Ball.
For as polarizing a player as he may be, the Heat has to have a discussion about Ball. He's a flashy player with plenty of flaws. But, in many ways, he's also a player who could just be scratching the surface of his potential. And if the Heat agrees with that, maybe this lure of the star player with an untapped ceiling will prove to be too much to pass up.