Ranking the Charlotte Hornets’ Top 5 Trade Assets

#1 The Charlotte Hornets 2023 2nd-overall draft pick

If you thought LaMelo Ball was going to be listed as the Charlotte Hornets’ most tradeable asset, you would be wrong – not because he isn’t, but more because he shouldn’t even be considered as a potential trade piece. In my eyes, LaMelo is untouchable unless he specifically requests out.

As such, Charlotte’s upcoming 2nd overall draft selection ranks as their biggest trade asset of the summer. While it’s unlikely the Hornets decide to move on from being able to add someone like Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller, the front office will certainly field calls about a potential trade.

Still, as Kupchak stated after the draft lottery, there is always a temptation to try and trade up in the draft or even to land a ready-made star should the right deal become available.

"“Yeah, there’s a temptation [to trade up]. I just don’t think that’s realistic, to be honest with you,” Kupchak said. “If we had the number one pick, I would take phone calls because that’s my job, but I probably wouldn’t listen very hard.”"

I would expect we see the Hornets keep their 2nd pick and select a future star to pair with LaMelo, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be options on the table on draft night. What those options are, though, we will likely never know.