Grade the mock trade: Hornets snag Tyler Herro, flip Gordon Hayward
By Adam Taylor
Does the three-team trade make sense for the Charlotte Hornets?
In Coelho’s mock trade, Charlotte is giving up Gordon Hayward and two top-10 protected first-round picks. In return, the Hornets get Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson. If Charlotte is serious about building a contending team around LaMelo Ball, this is the type of deal they need to consider.
Herro is 23 years old. He will be entering his fifth NBA season in October and has already tasted NBA Finals and Eastern Conference Finals competition. Herro is a winner. Adding Herro to Charlotte’s starting lineup would take some of the creation responsibilities off LaMelo’s shoulders while also giving the Hornets a genuine three-level scorer who can create opportunities for himself off the dribble.
Ball and Herro would create a dynamic backcourt for the Hornets and make their offensive output far more unpredictable.
And then, we have the Duncan Robinson aspect of the trade. Since signing his five-year $90 million deal, Robinson has failed to re-discover his elite perimeter scoring touch. Primarily a high-volume movement shooter, Robinson has found himself slipping down Miami’s pecking order. However, the five-year veteran is shooting the three at a 39.9% clip on his career and would provide some much-needed floor spacing for Charlotte.
By stepping in to facilitate a trade between the Heat and Trail Blazers, the Hornets would be receiving two highly talented offensive players who could help bring balance and potency to the team’s rotation.
This trade would make perfect sense for Charlotte.