When glancing upon the roster of the Charlotte Hornets, there is not a lot to be excited about beyond the starting lineup. Sure, there are a couple of rookies who could become something down the line, but it is the non-rookies who do not inspire a whole lot of confidence. With that in mind, could the Hornets look to move some of their bench clutter in order to improve the floor of their bench?
That is the idea behind a recent hypothetical trade proposal between the Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets. Charlotte would be parting ways with James Bouknight, Nick Richards, J.T. Thor, and a second-round draft pick in 2024 in this mock deal. Coming back their way would be Dorian Finney-Smith.
It is noted that dealing Richards puts Charlotte behind the proverbial 8-ball at the center position after the team was forced to waive Kai Jones earlier this week. However, it is the opinion of the author that Richards and starting center Mark Williams are unable to play together, and that the Hornets may be better off finding a bargain option to be the backup big man. Meanwhile an addition of Finney-Smith would allow for more flexibility in their lineup and rotation construction.
"“By contrast, Finney-Smith can play alongside anyone. He’s a combo forward who spaces the floor and defends. The Hornets are light on such players so Finney-Smith would be a suitable addition to the team.”"
Besides his versatility, Finney-Smith can bring his ability to shoot the three-ball to Charlotte. The 30-year-old is a career 35.7% shooter from deep in his career and would certainly help out one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league from last season. The Hornets need to find a way to improve in this area if they are going to escape the Eastern Conference’s basement.
Is this deal the most exciting trade idea for the Hornets? Far from it. But it is about identifying who is and who is not part of their future while at the same time finding a way to acquire someone who can help boost their supporting cast. The trio of Bouknight, Richards, and Thor are unlikely to be in Charlotte long-term, and the Hornets should look to move them while they still can.
Is this player the Hornets’ most likely trade candidate?
Is this veteran player the most likely player to be traded by the Charlotte Hornets during the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season?