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.

Without their two biggest stars, the San Antonio Spurs fell short once again to the Charlotte Hornets. Stephon Castle had another productive night during his fi