The Charlotte Hornets are 4-9 and showing no evidence of being a playoff team now or in the immediate future, despite having a young core of players that, on paper, looks like a potential nucleus of a future contender.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) has already missed five out of 11 games so far this season, but he’s shown why he was a top-three draft pick when he has played. The 24-year-old is averaging 23.3 points on 43 percent shooting (33.3 percent 3-point) with 7.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists over 33.3 minutes a night thus far.

At this point, Charlotte and LaMelo may be better off going their separate ways. Ball was ruled out for Monday night's home tilt against the Los Angeles Lakers, marking his fourth consecutive game missed to do an ankle impingement.

Before the 2020 NBA Draft, Ball told Minnesota, which held the top pick, he aspired to be U.S. president when his playing days were done.

LaMelo Ball once told the Timberwolves he wanted to become President of the United States after retiring from basketball.

Tonight, the Charlotte Hornets will return home to Spectrum Center looking to snap a two-game skid against Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James will be out for this one, but the Hornets are still shorthanded with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller on the shelf.