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NBA Power Rankings Week 14: Trade deadline recap

By Corey Rausch

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 23: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets at Amway Center on March 23, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 23: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets at Amway Center on March 23, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /
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NBA trade deadline (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
NBA trade deadline (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

Charlotte Hornets. 11. team. 170. . 23-21. Previous: 15th

Last Week: Beat San Antonio Spurs 100-97, Beat Houston Rockets 122-97, Beat Miami Heat 110-105

This Week: 3/28 vs. Phoenix Suns, 3/30 at Washington Wizards, 4/1 at Brooklyn Nets, 4/2 at Indiana Pacers

Given the news that came out last Sunday the fact that the feeling around the Charlotte Hornets remain positive is telling. A week ago LaMelo Ball fractured a bone in his wrist and reportedly required season-ending surgery. Losing that type of fun was a loss for not just the Hornets but for the NBA at large.

Some (myself included) projected the Hornets might look to sell at the deadline but instead used cash to bring in Brad Wanamaker. The team released a statement that Ball may not end up being out for the entirety of the remainder of the season after all and optimism returned.

Allow the rest of this week’s ranking to remind everyone that missing this amount of time should not preclude LaMelo Ball from being named the Rookie of the Year. He has been the best rookie this season and the next best is not particularly close. He has also had a greater impact on winning than any other rookie. He has played nearly 60 percent of his team’s games this season. Unless Anthony Edwards learns how to be efficient sometime between now and May the race is and should be over.  It is as simple as that.