The Charlotte Hornets have 52 games under their belt this season, entering the All-Star break with a 13-39 record and a grim outlook for the remainder of the season. A silver lining, though, is that every loss can give the team better odds of landing a high-impact rookie in the 2025 draft.
Still, fans shouldn't expect it to give up losses willingly in the remaining weeks. The Hornets have often put up a fight even against superior opponents, but the lack of healthy bodies, among other reasons, has had them running out of gas late in contests. In addition, the players are unlikely to mail it in, especially because their performances will determine whether they deserve to stay in Charlotte next season.
The past trade deadline has shown that the front office is not afraid to make significant roster changes. Even LaMelo Ball staying long-term in Charlotte is not assured, although it's worth noting that his spot on the roster likely won't depend on how well he does after the All-Star break. The same can be said about Brandon Miller, but his case is different because he is out for the rest of the campaign.
However, a handful of players might need to use the following 30 games to audition for a roster slot in the 2025-26 season.
DaQuan Jeffries
Former New York Knicks swingman DaQuan Jeffries found himself in luck this offseason when he found a new home despite the Knicks declining his team option for the 2024-25 campaign. His salary was needed as a filler for the Karl-Anthony Towns blockbuster deal in which the Hornets were a facilitator. As a reward, Jeffries got a three-year contract as part of his sign-and-trade deal.
It's unclear, though, how long he'll stay in the Queen City. The 27-year-old wing has shown flashes of potential to be a decent scorer off the bench, although he has just been too inconsistent and inefficient. The remainder of the regular season will probably determine if his future lies with the Hornets or as a trade piece.
Nick Smith Jr.
The nixed trade between the Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers is likely to benefit Nick Smith Jr. Now that Dalton Knecht is back in Los Angeles, Smith Jr. will have one fewer competition for playing time and give him more chances to prove to the franchise why it should stick with him next year.
The club has already exercised his team option for the 2025-26 season, so it will have to decide if it's worth holding onto him or shipping his potential expiring contract in the summer. Perhaps it will all depend on how well the second-year guard will perform from hereon.
Josh Green
The Hornets acquired Josh Green last summer in the Klay Thompson mega-trade, and his role was clear early on. He was supposed to be the 3-and-D glue guy, but he hasn't been that effective in either department.
With the arrival of Josh Okogie and possible additions in the offseason, Green will have to show why he deserves a roster spot in Charlotte. Otherwise, he could become a prime trade candidate.
Jusuf Nurkic/Mark Williams
Sending Mark Williams to the Los Angeles Lakers resulted in the Hornets having a glaring hole at the five position. To address the issue, they acquired Jusuf Nurkic, presumably to have him take turns with Moussa Diabate in patrolling the paint.
However, the Lakers' decision to fail Williams' physical and rescind the deal has caused a surplus of big men in Buzz City. It remains to be seen how the coaching staff plans on balancing their playing time this season, but it doesn't make sense to head into the 2025-26 campaign with all three centers.
Williams is still on his rookie-scale contract, while Nurkic is on the books only until the 2026 offseason. Financially speaking, it should be easy for Charlotte to find new homes for them if it comes down to that. Unfortunately, their trade values do not look promising at the moment.