It’s been a week since the Charlotte Hornets and 29 other teams were in the spotlight of the trade deadline. Surprisingly enough, The Hornets are 2-0 since the deadline. For some, the trade deadline was a complete dud. No major superstars were moved, just a bunch of guys who will change people’s perspectives on how far they will go in the playoffs. For the Hornets, the deadline was just a continuation of the focus on rebuilding its team with young players and draft capital. How did the Hornets do? Let’s talk about the moves they made.
The Hornets Acquire Tre Mann, Davis Bertans, Vasilije Micic, & Two Second-Round Picks for Gordon Hayward.
The first deal the Hornets made was trading Gordon Hayward. Hayward averaged 16.3 PTS, 4.8 REBS, 4.0 ASTS & 1.0 STLS in his four seasons in Charlotte. When Hayward signed his 4/120 million dollar deal in 2020, The expectation was that Hayward would help lead Charlotte back to the playoffs. Charlotte hadn’t been in the playoffs since 2016, and the expectation was elevated when Hayward joined the team. Unfortunately for Charlotte, The team was 77-91 during his tenure, which included one winning season (21-22). Hayward averaged 14.5 PTS, 4.7 REBS, 4.6 ASTS, and 1.1 STLS in 25 games for the Hornets this season.
The Fit Of Mann, Bertans & Micic.
Somebody will be left out when you amass the young talent the Thunder has accumulated. Unfortunately for Tre Mann, He was the odd man out in OKC. The Mann has a lot of ability when given a chance to play. Mann has a per-36 average of 11.8 PTS, 7.7 REBS, and 9.4 ASTS this season. Granted, these numbers are based on 15 games this year (2 games in Charlotte), but you see the potential when he gets the minutes.
With Lamelo Ball out for an undisclosed amount of time due to injury, Mann and Micic will get plenty of opportunity to show their worth. Like Mann, Micic found himself out of the rotation in Oklahoma City. Micic came from the Turkish league, winning two Turkish championships and two finals MVP trophies. He averaged 16.1 PTS, 5.0 ASTS, and 2.5 REBS in the 62 games he played before signing with OKC. He is a good backup point guard who flourishes in the pick-and-roll game. He is also a pretty good shooter, even though he has yet to show that (43/26/73%).
Davis Bertans got his money and hasn’t been the same since. At this point in his career, his contract is the only valuable thing about him. His 2-25 contract has only 5 million dollars guaranteed, which means if the Hornets or another team following a trade waive him before October 1st, 2024, they only owe him $5,000,000 and can free up a roster spot. However, it can become fully guaranteed if he gets the incentive to play 75% of games this season (62 games). As Bertans has played only 16 games so far this season, he can play the remaining 29 games and still won’t reach the incentive.
Grade: B-
The Hornets Acquire Seth Curry, Grant Williams And A Protected First-Round Pick for P.J. Washington.
In Charlotte’s second deal of the day, They traded P.J. Washington to the Dallas Mavericks. When Miles Bridges returned from his suspension, I had a feeling that P.J. Washington could be traded at some point during the season. Washinton averaged 14.8 PTS, 5.3 REBS, and 2.0 ASTS in the twelve games to begin the season, with 45/30/73% shooting splits. When Bridges returned, Washington averaged 13.2 PTS, 5.3 REBS, 2.3 ASTS, and 1.0 STLS with 44/33/70% shooting splits. Washington signed a 3/48 million extension during the off-season, and his contract was seen by many as a good bargain.
Seth Curry & Grant Williams Fit.
Seth Curry is a veteran in this league who can mentor guys like Nick Smith Jr., Bryce Mcgowens, and even Tre Mann. One of the things that’s overlooked in today’s NBA is the value of having veterans in the locker room. These are guys who can help guide the young players through the rough patches of an 82-game season. In addition to being a mentor, Curry is still a competent shooter who can excite fans in Charlotte as they see another Curry wearing the number 30 jersey.
Grant Williams is going to be an exciting player to watch. Dallas brought him in during the off-season because he can shoot the three and play defense. His North Carolina roots will make him an immediate fan favorite as well. Conversely, Williams goes from the winning programs in Boston and Dallas to the 3rd worst team in the Eastern Conference. The hope is that Williams will be a much better shooter than he’s shown this season (41/37/74%) and improve his defense. It’s like he forgot to play defense once he got to Dallas, which cost him.
Grade: B+
In Conclusion…
I think Charlotte did a pretty decent job with the moves they made. It was relatively easy for them to sit on the team they had, but they went in another direction and acquired pieces for their rebuild. Charlotte will come into the summer with about 35 million dollars in cap space. Much of that money will be gone based on their decision with Miles Bridges in the long term, but some legitimate questions still have to be asked. Is LaMelo your long-term solution? Will Miles Bridges be brought back? How much longer will the Hornets go as the head coach? Overall, they did well.
Overall Grade: B
West Coast Hoops 