There's no scenario where Jimmy Butler does not leave the Miami Heat. There's also no scenario where he lands with the Charlotte Hornets, but that doesn't mean

Charlotte Hornets face mounting challenges as Brandon Miller's season-ending injury depletes their wing rotation.

The contest, which was supposed to take place Jan. 11, is now set for March 17 at Crypto.com Arena, giving the Lakers six games in eight days from March 13-20

The Hornets are trying to sort out how to best deal with an evolving lineup, particularly if guard LaMelo Ball isn't ready to play following his latest ailment. The Hornets have lost three of their last four games, with the 112-107 setback to the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.

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A new year has meant a new LaMelo Ball. The Charlotte Hornets' do-it-all point guard has developed a pragmatic approach to his game in 2025 that has paid dividends in the standings and on the stat sheet.

SportsLine's model has simulated the Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers matchup 10,000 times and revealed its NBA picks for Monday

The 2027 first-round pick was the only one Dallas had to offer because NBA rules prohibit trading first-round picks in successive years, and the Mavericks, at the time, owed the Knicks a first-rounder in 2024 or 2025 from the Kristaps Porzingis deal ( it officially became the ‘24 pick in April) and Brooklyn one in 2029 from the Irving deal.

Lakers big man Anthony Davis had 42 points and 23 rebounds in Monday's win vs. Hornets. Anthony Davis tells me he was inspired by a local North Carolina rapper in the win: "I was channeling my inner J.Cole," AD told me. "I was in his city, I had to represent to the fullest!" pic.twitter.com/WveU9loAXt

The Hornets have also had some trouble defending inside the arc, where they allow opponents to shoot the ninth-highest 2-point percentage in the league (55.4%) and are prone to putting opponents on the line — allowing the 10th-most free throws per game (17.7).