Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball is expected to miss the rest of the current NBA season. According to reports from ESPN, he will undergo two surgeries to repair injuries to his wrist and ankle. Ball has already missed games this season due to his ankle and has experienced lower body injury issues throughout his first five seasons in the league.

These surgeries will address his ongoing problems, meaning he will be absent for Charlotte`s final nine regular-season games. Looking ahead, Ball`s recurring injuries are a major concern for the Hornets, who see him as the cornerstone of their franchise. He has only played more than 60 games in a season once, during his second year when he was selected as an All-Star. Since then, over the past three years, he has played an average of just 35 games per season – a worrying trend for Charlotte.

Injuries to Ball and other key Hornets players have destroyed any hopes of team success this season. Brandon Miller suffered an early season-ending injury, Grant Williams is also out for the season, and Tre Mann, who seemed to be improving significantly in his fourth year, is also sidelined.

Injuries have become a defining narrative for the Hornets, a team that has struggled at the bottom of the league for much of the last decade. However, there is a potential positive on the horizon. Charlotte could have a good chance to draft Cooper Flagg, a highly-rated freshman player from Duke, if they get the number one pick in the draft lottery. Acquiring Flagg could be a game-changer for the franchise and immediately improve the team`s future prospects. A potential trio of Flagg, Ball, and Miller, along with promising supporting players, would be very appealing.

However, much depends on both landing Flagg and Ball`s future health. Ball is considered a polarizing player; some believe he is just a scorer who puts up numbers without contributing to winning. While there might be some truth to that, his exceptional scoring abilities are undeniable. He is one of the most exciting players in the league and was close to his second All-Star selection after leading Eastern Conference guards in fan votes. Despite this, he didn`t make the All-Star team, and things have only worsened for him and the Hornets, who currently have a poor record of 18 wins and 54 losses, the third-worst in the league.

While this season might have been lost even before Ball`s surgery announcement, the Hornets can now fully focus on the upcoming draft and getting their players healthy for the next season.