​Ball had been the face of the Hornets franchise from the day he was drafted. He beat out Anthony Edwards for Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and was an All-Star in his second season in the league. And he was coming off one of his best seasons, playing a central role in the Hornets’ stunning run over the second half of last season, a 33-15 finish that pushed them into the Play-In Tournament. Then, just when things finally appeared to be turning for the Hornets, Ball was sent away. “I feel like it’s God’s plan,” a soft-spoken Ball said on Tuesday at his introductory news conference. “I just leave it up to Him, and I just feel extremely blessed.”New York Times