For the first time in many years, the Charlotte Hornets made significant changes to the team around the trade deadline. What the Hornets were able to achieve in the middle of this lost season is almost unbeelievable.
For starters, Ish Smith and James Bouknight are no longer part of the team.
Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, and PJ Washington were all traded away. In return, Charlotte received Grant Williams, Tre Mann, Vasilije Micić (a EuroLeague MVP), Seth Curry, Davis Bertans and TWO lightly protected 1st round picks.
The Hornets extracted a shocking amount of value from these deals. Resetting the roster with veterans that will help the team win now while bolstering future assets is tough to accomplish in one go, but that’s exactly what happened.
It is worth noting that both Seth Curry (Steph’s brother and son of Hornet great Dell Curry) and Grant Williams are from Charlotte. Adding players that are proud to wear the jersey and will connect with the city has undoubtedly given the beleaguered fan base some much needed juice. This was a smart move in regards to both on-court production and the culture surrounding the team.
Additionally, it was confirmed by Mitch Kupchak that the new owners were heavily involved in making the trade deadline deals happen which strengthens the idea that Buzz City is heading in the right direction.
Speaking of Mitch Kupchak, Charlotte also decided it was time to make another welcome change in initiating the process of phasing him out as GM and shifting him to an advisory role. New ownership announced this change and immediately began the search for the next executive to guide Charlotte. New owners Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall are beginning to leave their mark on this franchise, for the better.
The addition of quality depth and veterans immediately improved this roster. Upon the arrival of the newest Hornets, the purple and teal have gone 3-0 in three games, which happens to be the longest win streak of the season.
The energy around the team feels much lighter and optimistic. For now, there are enough good vibes to overshadow the absence of LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams. Williams, one of last year’s few bright spots, sadly hasn’t seen any court time since Dec. 8th due to a back injury.
The team finding success on the court without its offensive engine/star point guard and prized big man in the middle is the most encouraging moment Charlotte has experienced since the season began. If the Hornets are capable of winning some games now, imagine what they’ll be able to achieve when finally healthy…
Thank you for reading.
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