Ranking the Charlotte Hornets’ Top 5 Trade Assets

After securing a top-2 selection in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets have every reason to begin rebuilding their roster around LaMelo Ball. Regardless of whether it’s Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller, the Hornets will be adding a future All-Star talent to their rotation on draft night.

Perhaps Charlotte will also add another ready-made contributor with the 27th pick, or they make a splash in free agency. Frankly, the Hornets have options. However, if Mitch Kupchak really wants to shake things up this summer, most of his work will be done in the trade market.

Fortunately, the Hornets have a bevy of tradable assets, ranging from a surplus of draft picks, young talent that hasn’t figured it out yet, all the way to veteran contributors on expiring deals. As such, here are the Hornet’s top-5 trade assets heading into the 2023 off-season.

#5 Terry Rozier is a trade option for the Charlotte Hornets

Entering the second year of a $96 million contract extension, Terry Rozier is a veteran guard under team control, which makes him a valuable asset in trade discussions. A genuine ball-handler with three-level scoring capabilities, Rozier could be deemed a difference-maker by contending teams around the league or a team that is looking to upgrade their guard position in order to make a push next season.

Given Rozier’s age (29), and the interest he drew around the trade deadline, the Hornets could potentially look to cash in on the veteran guard to open up additional minutes in their guard rotation. However, due to Rozier’s proven fit alongside LaMelo, the Hornets won’t be in a rush to move on from him, and any potential deal would have to make sense.

It’s worth noting, though, that Rozier isn’t a high-level defender, meaning a potential trade could open the door to adding a legitimate lockdown perimeter guard to help empower LaMelo on the offensive end – similar to what the Atlanta Hawks thought they were doing when they acquired Dejounte Murray last summer.