Is LaMelo Ball playing tonight against the Detroit Pistons | December 14th, 2022 | 2022-2023 NBA Season

After missing the Charlotte Hornets' last 11 games because of an ankle sprain, All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball is questionable Wednesday night against the Detroit Pistons.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the team is "hopeful" their franchise guard can make his return to the lineup. LaMelo Ball is expected to go through warmups and see how he feels. From there, a final decision will be made on his playing status.

It has been a rough third season for the former No. 3 overall pick. So far this year, he has only appeared in three games. In those contensts, he as averaged 19.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game.

As expected, the Hornets have struggled greatly in Ball's absence. Over their last 11 games, they have a record of 3-8. To make matters worse, the Hornets are currently riding a five-game losing streak. For the sake of building any sort of positive momentum, getting Ball back could be huge for Charlotte.

Prior to this injury-ridden season, LaMelo Ball was on the fast track to being one of the top point guards in the league. In just his second year, he found himself on an All-Star team while averaging 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.6 assists.

Charlotte Hornets should consider taking their time with LaMelo Ball

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Charlotte Hornets

With LaMelo Ball being sidelined for an extended period this year, the Charlotte Hornets find themselves near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Currently, they have one of the worst records in the NBA at 7-20. Only the Orlando Magic sit below them.

The Hornets might have had playoff aspirations entering the year, but being without their franchise player has drastically changed things. Given how far in the hole they are, it's doubtful they manage to turn things around to secure a spot in the play-in tournament.

With this season becoming a wash, Charlotte has no reason to rush LaMelo Ball back into the lineup. At 21-years-old, they don't want to risk causing severe damage that could linger to future seasons.

Another reason the Hornets should rush is because of the position they now find themselves in. As most know, the 2023 draft class is one featuring multiple highly-touted prospects. Because of Ball dealing with multiple injuries, Charlotte is now a team in the hunt for Victor Wembenyama.

The return of Ball will certainly get things back on track for the Hornets, but this is a situation where they need to think about the long game as well.