In the face of injuries and setbacks, his bright performances stand out, suggesting that he must be nurtured rather than traded away. For instance, when the Hornets faced teams with strong defenses, Ball's ability to create shots under pressure often led to more competitive games, highlighting his potential value in a playoff run.

Ball (ankle) isn't listed on Charlotte's injury report for Monday's game against the Heat. After resting Saturday during the second half of a back-to-back, Ball will return to action Monday. Over his last four appearances, Ball has averaged 21.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 31.3 minutes per game.