The Golden State Warriors’ offseason has been marked by quiet, yet effective moves. Much of the focus has revolved around Klay Thompson’s potential departure, but the team seems to be on solid footing. A combination of Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, and De’Anthony Melton is expected to fill the gap left by Thompson in the Warriors’ rotation. In fact, despite the emotional weight of losing a key player, the Warriors may have improved overall—a case of addition by subtraction.

What stands out even more than their free agency signings—adding Melton, Hield, Kyle Anderson, and others—are the deals the Warriors front office, led by Mike Dunleavy Jr., almost executed. Golden State came close to acquiring Paul George, but the Clippers ultimately backed out of a potential sign-and-trade at the last minute. The Warriors also aggressively pursued Lauri Markkanen before he signed his extension with Utah. Both of these players would have significantly boosted Golden State’s title hopes. While no comparable alternatives have emerged, there’s hope that another All-Star may become available before the trade deadline.

Golden State is fully aware of the urgency. Stephen Curry, still a top-five player, has a limited window left in his career, and the Warriors owe it to him to field a championship contender. Successful franchises make tough decisions based on logic rather than sentiment, and the Warriors’ recent youth movement has been a product of that approach. However, Curry’s rare talent requires an all-in commitment. Anything less would be a failure—not only for the team but also for the fans watching.

With that in mind, it’s time to reconsider a key decision from the Warriors’ past. Back in the 2020 NBA Draft, Golden State selected James Wiseman with the No. 2 overall pick, passing on LaMelo Ball. While that move seemed logical at the time, hindsight reveals it hasn’t aged well.

Here’s a trade proposal that could correct that misstep:

Warriors-Hornets Trade to Pair Stephen Curry with LaMelo Ball

Why would the Charlotte Hornets trade LaMelo Ball? It’s a valid question, but recent speculation has linked Ball to the Warriors. The idea stems from the possibility that Charlotte may want to rebuild around Rookie of the Year runner-up Brandon Miller, their second overall pick in 2023. Miller has impressed early on, while Ball has struggled with injuries, playing more than 51 games in just one of his four NBA seasons. His All-Star appearance came in 2021-22, but since then, he has missed significant time due to various injuries.

While injuries are beyond Ball’s control, they’ve become an unfortunate trend for the young star. The Hornets, long in need of a breakthrough, could view Miller as their future and be open to moving on from Ball. At just 22 years old, Ball still holds immense value, and any trade involving him would bring a substantial return.

For the Warriors, Ball would be a perfect fit in their system. His quick decision-making, constant off-ball movement, and elite playmaking in transition align perfectly with Golden State’s style of play. If the opportunity arises, the Warriors should jump at the chance to bring LaMelo Ball into their backcourt alongside Curry.