LaMelo Ball Contract Extension Press Conference
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SportsTranscript
00:00 and thank everybody here for coming today.
00:03 A very exciting day for the Hornets, of course exciting for the Mellow as well.
00:10 For the last several years, one of our stated positions with this organization would be to try to build a team primarily through the draft.
00:21 That's not to say that we can't do it via trade and free agency, but primarily through the draft.
00:30 That we could build a team that's sustainable and not only make the playoffs, but advance in the playoffs.
00:39 We're not trying to hurry the process and certainly we don't want to slow it down,
00:44 but it is our position that that's how we're going to build this team.
00:51 I think we're very close to being a team that could be a playoff team.
00:56 Of course I have my goals and I know the Mellow has his goals, but I think we're pretty close.
01:03 I like our young players, I like our veterans, and of course the cornerstone for this team going forward
01:12 for the next number of years is the Mellow Ball.
01:15 I can't say how excited we are today to make the announcement and to have the official press conference.
01:24 For the Mellow, you mentioned a lot of the things that I was going to say as far as the first player and all-star.
01:31 It's all good stuff and today's a great day.
01:35 Congratulations and at this point...
01:39 Thank you.
01:42 Pretty much I just want to say thank you all for being here.
01:50 You all got my back, I feel like.
01:52 Pretty much want to have you all back.
01:54 It's just a blessing to be here.
01:56 Thank you all. I love you all.
01:58 Let's keep going.
02:04 If any media members have questions, please raise your hands and we'll get them on the phone to you.
02:10 Hey, the Mellow, congratulations. Steve Reed from the Associated Press.
02:16 Can you just talk about the decision of why you wanted to come back here,
02:20 why you wanted to sign this contract extension to stay here in Charlotte?
02:25 The decision? It literally are.
02:28 All my years here I had a good time, life wasn't bad.
02:31 The basketball aspect, if that's not really going well, you kind of want to live your life and just have fun and be living well.
02:38 In Charlotte I was doing that so it just all felt like a great choice and I just made it pretty much.
02:44 Love Mellow, congratulations. Questions for Mitch.
02:52 You talked a little bit on your opening statement,
02:55 but just what kind of testament is this to the organization that you were able to draft a player in the third overall pick,
03:01 develop and then get to this point where you can sign into an extension in just three or four years or so?
03:08 Well, as Sam mentioned, it's the first time it's happened in the organization's history.
03:15 And to have a player of the Mellow's caliber with his age, his youth, we know he's going to get better as a player.
03:28 He's here every day. Certainly had to set back this past year, right?
03:33 But he's been, in terms of healing, he's been 100% healed and he's been on the court,
03:43 working out every single day trying to get better.
03:46 So to have a young player who's of course made the All-Star team,
03:51 we have not had great success as a team, which is something that will change.
03:56 That's our stated goal. But to have a player like him back with us, choose to come back to us,
04:02 it's exciting and I hope that's exciting for the city of Charlotte.
04:09 Well, Mellow, I'm going to go to the middle. Wolfologic from WFNZ.
04:14 You had said previously that you wanted to become kind of a larger role in this organization.
04:20 How much of that did you kind of use this offseason?
04:23 You had some of the workouts for the draft picks and kind of more of a presence in the organization.
04:28 How much of that have you kind of taken under your wing and been a part kind of more in Charlotte with this team?
04:34 Like I said, where we at, we all growing together. So I think it's just a great position.
04:39 I feel like we're going the right way now.
04:41 And in terms of what this contract means, how much of that kind of puts responsibility on your back
04:47 to get this thing turned around and talk about some of the things that Mitch Kupchak said about,
04:53 you know, not only getting in the playoffs, but advancing in the playoffs.
04:56 Yeah, definitely. I mean, from the day I got here, I felt like that.
04:59 Even now, I mean, it's definitely more of a role. So it's coming in every day and getting better.
05:04 Just bringing the whole team around and everybody getting better and having the main goal.
05:07 So that's what we're going to try to do.
05:09 Lamella, Ashley Stroll on with NBC Charlotte.
05:17 Brandon Miller told me last night that you came to his workout. You guys had a good relationship.
05:22 He said Lamella and I are very similar in the fact that we both love basketball and cars.
05:26 He hopes that you'll let him drive one of his cars eventually.
05:29 But what does it mean to kind of have him join this team and what's your relationship been like so far?
05:33 Will you let him drive a car?
05:35 Driving a car? Yeah, I don't know about that.
05:37 Everybody knows how I get. I think I got it from my pops.
05:40 I don't really let anybody drive the cars.
05:43 But definitely Brandon Hammond. I know he's great.
05:45 You know, it's like a little brother. Definitely cool.
05:47 I think he's a great player too. You know, 6'9", he handles the ball, the moves.
05:51 So I feel like he's just going to fit in perfect. It's going to be a great match.
05:56 Lamella Rodman, Charlotte Observer. Just wondering when Miles Bridges is back.
06:01 Obviously it's one of your BFFs. Having him back now, what's that like?
06:05 Knowing that you guys are going to be able to be up in the court again once more?
06:09 I got great vibes. I mean, you guys will be back.
06:11 So that was big. Hopefully we can make the most of it this year.
06:14 And then to show everybody.
06:16 You talked about wanting to be here, to see things kind of turn around, get to the playoffs.
06:21 Just how much are you driven by that to make this franchise a winner as opposed to what's been happening the last few years?
06:28 Right. I mean, the goal is always just winning. So whatever we do, we just want to win.
06:31 So just come in and win. Obviously we just want to go to the top.
06:34 It starts with the playoffs, you know, baby steps and stuff like that.
06:37 So we just go keep moving and just try our best. You know, we can tell you that.
06:41 We mostly can.
06:44 Mitch, in terms of with this contract now, some might say that this puts a clock on the franchise's progress.
06:51 Knowing that you have Lamella for a certain amount of time.
06:54 You say you don't want to speed up the process, but how much of this puts the onus on you to make sure that this is built around Lamella,
07:00 the right way to get to that level by the time this contract's done?
07:04 Yeah, when I say you don't want to speed up, you don't want to get ahead of the curve and make a decision that might, you know,
07:12 or might not help you win the game this year. But actually when the season's over, it sets you back three or four years, right?
07:18 We're trying to go as fast as we possibly can.
07:21 So I think that, you know, we are in a good position. I think we can be a playoff team this year.
07:32 I'm not necessarily feeling that we have to add, you know, a lot more talent.
07:38 I think the talent is in the system. You know, we're not the oldest team, so perhaps, you know, you look for a veteran, you know, to give some more leadership.
07:48 But I think our coach provides a lot of leadership. But I think the talent that we need to get to where we want to go is already in the system.
07:57 Now it's just going to take a little time, you know, to get everybody up to speed and, you know, get to where we want to get to.
08:05 But I don't think there's a major area that needs to be addressed. You know, maybe you can use a backup goal handling guard or something like that.
08:15 But I think what we need is in the system.
08:18 Lonello, I wonder if you could take us through how you're, you know, Mitch has kind of given us an injury update, but how are you feeling?
08:26 Are you 100 percent? And also can you talk about last season, how frustrating was that to go through?
08:32 And how much does that motivate you moving ahead?
08:35 Definitely frustrating, you know, with any injuries, but motivation a lot just to get back on the court and just do what I love.
08:42 And then with the injury, the docs said I'm 100, so yeah, just on the court now and just baby steps, you know, getting everything back to where it was and just trying to team everything up.
08:51 Mitch, you mentioned the roster and trying to get that going, I guess right about now. You have a couple of guys out there who still haven't signed.
08:58 Just where do you think you're staying? What are you trying to finish the roster as you guys move forward here?
09:03 Yeah, I mean, this press conference is about Lonello, so I don't want to, you know, branch off.
09:10 Yes, we still have some work to do. You know, we're not done with our summer. It's not time to go on vacation.
09:15 But as I said, I'm very comfortable with the talent that's on this team. I think we're in a good spot.
09:22 Any other questions from our media here today? And more in the back?
09:32 Mike Solark, Tampa Bay.
09:36 Hey Lonello, Mike Solark, Inspector News 1. Congratulations on the deal.
09:46 The part that goes with a lot of the fans out there that you say have your back are those that don't.
09:53 And they'll say, wow, he's got this big contract. There's got to be pressure for him to produce.
09:58 How do you respond to that about having some pressure being essentially the face of this franchise moving forward?
10:04 I never really worried about that type of stuff. Growing up, my pops always said pressure was like finding your next meal, you know, finding where to sleep, you know, stuff like that.
10:12 So I'm pretty much blessed. I just got to worry about playing good and ridding the props. I'm straight.
10:21 Mitch, obviously having Lonello is a benefit in itself on the court.
10:25 But do you feel like having him kind of here for the foreseeable future, does that make Charlotte or hopefully makes this organization a more desirable place for free agents and also for other players to extend their careers,
10:37 knowing that you kind of have one of these main core pieces in place long term?
10:43 Well, what's going to make Charlotte more desirable?
10:46 You know, as much as I like Lonello, he's not going to be the reason, the primary reason why Charlotte is more desirable.
10:56 I think we would both admit if we win games and we become a winning organization,
11:01 then you'll see that players will want to be drafted by Charlotte, they'll want to be traded to Charlotte, and when they're free agents, they'll want to come to Charlotte.
11:10 So, yes, Lonello is a big part of that. As I mentioned earlier, he's our cornerstone. But winning will solve all those other problems.
11:20 Hey Lonello, Blue Schwartz, QC News. I was just curious, if you had to pick, what's the number one trait to have in being a successful player in the NBA?
11:31 Number one trait to have? Pretty much I'd just say having a mind, right?
11:38 Any more questions?
11:46 Hey Lonello, I was just wondering if I could get your take on what you see with this roster right now.
11:52 We've got Mitch Stake, but how do you feel about this roster and this team moving forward and what the expectations should be?
11:59 I feel great, like Mitch is saying, I'm right there with him. He's got my back, I've got his back, so exactly what he's saying, I'm right there with him.
12:11 Alright, thank you all again. Lonello, Mitch, thank you both for your time. Congratulations. Thanks once more everyone for being here today at Spectrum Center.
12:20 Thank y'all.
12:22 (applause)
12:24 (applause)