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Should the Charlotte Hornets put this veteran on the trade block?

ByJames Mastrucci|
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 05: A detail of Charlotte Hornets jersey against the Miami Heat during the second half at FTX Arena on April 05, 2022 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 05: A detail of Charlotte Hornets jersey against the Miami Heat during the second half at FTX Arena on April 05, 2022 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

There are certain players on certain teams who stick out as logical players to be traded during the course of the upcoming season. The Charlotte Hornets are no exception, and their entry in an article is proof of exactly that.

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report identified 1 Player Every NBA Team Should Put On the Trade Block and made an obvious selection for the Hornets. That player? Gordon Hayward. After acknowledging a healthy Hayward could help Charlotte possibly be more competitive this year, Bailey notes that the likelihood is the Hornets will still not amount to much. Additionally, it may be in their best interest to move him and his expiring deal.

"“They aren’t likely to go much further than that, though. And if it becomes clear that mediocrity (or something just above that) is where Charlotte will top out, the Hornets should think about moving Hayward’s expiring contract before he hits free agency in 2024.If he plays well enough to convince some contender to part with a protected first-round pick, Charlotte should take it.”"

If the Hornets can get a first-round pick of any kind, as Bailey suggests, they should take it (if offered) and not think twice. It is about understanding competitive timelines and where Charlotte is as an organization from a competitive standpoint. The reality this is a team that has a lot to prove, and it is far from guaranteed that they are even worthy of being a team capable of competing for a spot in the Play-In Tournament, with the genuine postseason qualification almost out of the question.

By the time the Hornets are in a position to actually make a playoff run, Hayward will be long gone. This is why Charlotte should be aggressively shopping Hayward on the trade market and look to get something in return via trade. Even if it is less than the hopeful return Bailey mentions, Charlotte should look to move on from the former Jazz and Celtics forward and move forward as an organization with the youthful talent they have cultivated in recent years.

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