The Charlotte Hornets are entering a new phase focused on long-term success under the leadership of new general manager Jeff Peterson and head coach Charles Lee. After years of pursuing short-term goals like securing the eighth seed in the playoffs, the Hornets are now committed to a multi-year strategy aimed at building a sustainable, competitive team.
To achieve this objective, the Hornets should continue the approach they adopted at the 2023-24 trade deadline. During that period, they traded away veterans Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, and PJ Washington in exchange for future draft picks and young players. This strategy of trading valuable veterans for future assets not only aligns with their long-term goals but also provides salary relief to the teams acquiring those veterans.
As part of this ongoing strategy, the Hornets could look to trade Vasilije Micic and Cody Martin. Micic, 30, and Martin, 28, have a combined salary of $15.8 million for the next year. Although both are capable rotation players, they do not fit into Charlotte’s rebuilding timeline. Consequently, trading them to teams focused on immediate success would be a sensible move, allowing the Hornets to gain more draft picks and young talent while also providing salary cap relief to their trade partners.
By continuing to offload veterans who don’t align with their long-term plans, the Hornets can accumulate the resources needed to build a team capable of sustained success in the future. This strategic shift marks a significant and promising change in the Hornets’ approach, positioning them to develop a competitive and enduring team.