As the Charlotte Hornets once again sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, LaMelo Ball's future with the organization is becoming less certain.

On Tuesday, many individuals were buzzing about viral headlines and rumors suggesting that ESPN removed Stephen A. Smith from its " NBA Countdown" programs. However, Smith has since addressed the buzz, calling it a "non-story" and shutting down earlier reports that he was "yanked" from the show after appearing on for over six years.

In this mock trade, the Milwaukee Bucks would get Giannis Antetokounmpo a complementary star by trading for LaMelo Ball.

Longtime NBA star Chris Paul, who returned to the Los Angeles Clippers this offseason, appears he'll be calling it quits at the end of the 2025-26 season. Paul announced the news on his social media accounts with a highlight reel of his 21-year career alongside the caption,