LiAngelo

Ball

Ball played for the Greensboro Swarm last season and will probably be back with them this season. Even if he does make his way onto an NBA team, he won’t see enough minutes to be a fantasy asset the way his brothers are.

It’s a non-guaranteed deal, and Shams notes that LiAngelo signed a similar training-camp deal with Charlotte last season. He most recently played for the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ G League affiliate, and that’s likely where we’ll see him again in 2022-23.

Ball will make his Summer League debut after clearing protocols as he competes for a roster spot alongside his brother, LaMelo. Ball averaged 9.6 points, 2.0 triples and 1.6 steals in five Summer League games played in 2021.

Ball will have to quarantine for 5 days, so he will likely miss the start of the Las Vegas summer league. It is unclear if he will re-join the team once he clears quarantine, but it is surely possible. This will have no impact on fantasy basketball whatsoever.

Charlotte signed Ball to a non-guaranteed deal on Thursday, which the expectation they’d waive him and have him play for their G League affiliate to start the season. Ball appeared in five games with the Hornets during the Summer League in Las Vegas and averaged 9.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 17.4 minutes per game.

Ball was solid during his time with the Hornets’ Summer League outfit in Las Vegas, and that was the catalyst for his being signed Thursday. The expectation is that he’ll be with the Hornets’ G League affiliate in Greensboro.

The points and minutes were both team-highs and the coaching staff must love what they see so far from the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s draft. He’s sure to have plenty of competition for minutes on this deeper Charlotte team to begin the season, so while his professional development may not be one of rapidity, this is a step in the right direction. Kai Jones fared very well with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double to go with two dimes and a block, and LiAngelo Ball sank five triples in just 16 minutes to go for 16 points and a pair of steals.

Ball previously was in training camp with the Pistons before being waived, and it looks like he will be getting a second chance at realizing his NBA dreams, this time with his younger brother’s team. The Las Vegas summer league will be held at the Thomas & Mack Center from August 8-17.

The other Ball brother isn’t quite as skilled or ready as his brothers but he could end up signing a two-way contract somewhere and play some G League ball this season.

The lesser Ball brother has had a tough time making his way into the NBA, and to this point, he hasn’t even been able to make a G League team. This is the first time an NBA team has extended him a contract of any capacity, but it’s a non-guaranteed deal and Detroit’s roster is full, so it’s extremely unlikely he’ll make the regular-season roster. Maybe he’ll finally earn a G League deal, though.