Ridiculous mock trade has Hornets trading best player
There are some mock trade proposals that make sense and others that do not. This particular deal involving the Charlotte Hornets falls into the latter category rather than the former. The proposal includes the Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans coming to terms on a multi-player deal that would shake things up in both the Eastern and Western Conference.
The mock deal has the Hornets receiving C.J. McCollum, Dyson Daniels, and first-round draft picks in 2024, 2026, and 2028. Charlotte would end up trading the best player on their roster in order to get this return, LaMelo Ball. Give that a second to sink in.
Okay, ready?
Why would the Hornets consider trading their franchise player? While it can be mentioned that the multiple draft picks are intriguing, draft selections are used with the hope that a player like Ball can be added to a team’s roster. Why trade a known commodity for something that might end up being as talented as someone they already have on their roster? It makes absolutely no sense.
It is noted this mock deal makes the Hornets worse, which is obvious. While Charlotte has largely failed to put a quality product on the court, trading away Ball only gets them further away from being competitive rather than closer to.
"“This deal makes the Hornets a worse team. There’s no denying that. Here’s the rub – the Hornets are already a bad team. They’ve primarily been in the league’s basement for years. Occasionally, they’ve stumbled out of it – only to fall right back in. Something needs to change in Charlotte. We’re not saying they’ve got to trade Ball. If that’s a non-option for this franchise, that’s understandable. On the other hand, the Hornets could benefit from a fresh start. We’ll say this: if the organization has any inkling that Ball is a flight risk, they should move on. “"
The reasoning as to why the Hornets would agree to this deal is flimsy at best. Trading Ball is a non-starter unless he outright demands a trade or murmurs begin to emerge about him being unhappy, suggesting any deal that has the former third-overall pick leaving Charlotte can go right back into the trash where it belongs.
