LaMelo Ball is a key piece of the Charlotte Hornets' future, but the 2020 third overall pick remains without a contract extension.
However, that could change in the near future, as ESPN's Bobby Marks reported Thursday that Ball is "likely" to sign an extension after the 2023 NBA draft.
Marks wrote:
"I don't believe there's a clear-cut favorite after [Victor] Wembanyama. There's an argument that Charlotte should not go [Scoot] Henderson with LaMelo Ball on the roster and likely to sign an extension in the offseason. However, what happens if the Hornets front office feels that there's enough separation from Henderson and [Brandon] Miller as the best available player?