🚨 LaMelo’s Injury Timeline, Nick Smith Jr.’s Struggles & The Salaun Question

NBA: Brooklyn Nets at Charlotte Hornets

Jan 29, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Nick Smith Jr. (8) looks to pass defended by Brooklyn Nets guard Keon Johnson (45) during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Jim Dedmon/Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Table of Contents

LaMelo Ball’s Injury Timeline

The Hornets announced that LaMelo Ball will be reevaluated in a week after suffering another left ankle sprain. That sounds encouraging, but history tells us that “reevaluated” doesn’t always mean “returning.” If he doesn’t come back within that timeframe, Charlotte could be looking at another prolonged absence.

The Hornets have consistently used a two-week reevaluation period for players, so shortening LaMelo’s timeline to one week could be a positive sign. However, considering his history with ankle issues—158 missed games since entering the league—it’s fair to ask whether the team should even bother rushing him back this season. The All-Star break is fast approaching, and the Hornets’ playoff chances are already slim. Wouldn’t it make more sense to let him fully heal and return with no risk of aggravation?

If LaMelo sits for an extended period, it raises bigger questions about the franchise’s direction. The team has shown flashes of competitiveness, but without its best player, the long-term outlook gets murkier.

Nick Smith Jr.’s Shooting Woes

Nick Smith Jr. has seen his role increase due to injuries, but his play hasn’t inspired much confidence. Against Brooklyn, he finished with two points on 1-of-10 shooting, including 0-of-7 from three. That kind of performance would be concerning for any rookie, but for someone whose primary skill is supposed to be scoring, it’s even more troubling.

Smith Jr. has struggled from deep for weeks now, shooting just 26% from three in his last five games. If he’s not a reliable outside shooter, what does he bring to the table? His passing has been decent at times, but his defense remains a work in progress. If he’s not making shots, his impact is minimal.

The Hornets have to decide if they’re willing to keep giving him these opportunities. On a fully healthy roster, he likely wouldn’t be playing at all. His long-term outlook depends on whether he can regain confidence in his shot, because right now, he doesn’t look like a future rotational piece.

Where Is Tidjane Salaun?

If there was ever a game where Salaun could have gotten NBA minutes, it was against Brooklyn. The Hornets were shorthanded, relying on G-League players, yet Salaun remained in Greensboro. That decision says a lot about where the organization thinks he is in his development.

Salaun’s G League stats don’t inspire much confidence. He’s averaging 10 points per game on just 39% shooting from the field and a rough 26% from three. Unlike other prospects who have dominated in the G League before getting NBA minutes, he’s still struggling.

That’s not necessarily a red flag—he was always considered a long-term project—but it does suggest the Hornets aren’t rushing to get him back in the rotation. The best-case scenario is that he finds his rhythm in the G League before returning. The worst case? He becomes another lottery pick that never quite puts it together.

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