When can the Hornets make a trade again?

With the Charlotte Hornets watching this year’s postseason from home, you could be forgiven for feeling like the new NBA season is an eternity away. Fortunately, the offseason is right around the corner, and if we’re being honest, that’s where the fun begins.

As such, Hornets fans should circle a couple of key dates on their calendars.

• June 30
  • The Charlotte Hornets can begin negotiating contracts with their free agents. As such, you can expect a qualifying offer to be extended to PJ Washington, officially making him a restricted-free agent. Furthermore, that is when official talks can begin with Kelly Oubre Jr. about a potential return to the team for the 2023-24 season and beyond.
• July 1.
  • PJ Washington and Theo Maledon can sign an offer sheet.
• July 6
  • Free agency officially begins.

The Hornets will be entering the free agency period armed with a $12.2 million Non-Taxpayer mid-level exception, a $4.4 million Bi-Annual exception, and a $1.9 million trade exception courtesy of the deal that sent Jalen McDaniels to the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Furthermore, the Hornets could potentially look to shed some of their current salaries by trading away Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward as the team looks toward building their roster around LaMelo Ball and whoever they choose to select with the 2nd overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

It’s also worth noting that the Hornets’ cap space will take a hit during draft night, as the team currently boasts the 2nd, 27th, 34th, 39th, and 42nd picks. As such, there is a legitimate chance we see the team consolidate some of their picks to either move up from 27th in the draft, acquire a ready-made veteran, or simply kick the can down the road.

While there’s no telling what moves the Hornets are or are not going to make during the free agency period, the hope of potentially resetting the roster and building around two young high-upside talents will likely have fans dreaming of a brighter future. Until then, we can always debate who the Hornets are going to take with their 2nd overall pick in the draft.