With the preseason halfway done and the regular season about to start, the Charlotte Hornets roster appears set. If there are changes forthcoming, they will probably be just some minor tweaks.
Talent-wise, the team isn't up to par with most contenders. But that's likely by design, as the front office has focused more on player development than looking for a quick way to finish its rebuild phase.
A major trade is possible anytime from now or months into the 2024-25 season. However, that is presumably far down the franchise's list of priorities.
Suggestion to target Brandon Ingram won't help the Hornets
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report recently pegged Charlotte as a potential trade destination for disgruntled New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram. His reasons include the organization having the means to supply the forward with his coveted maximum contract and the "hometown" angle, as Ingram grew up in North Carolina and played college ball at Duke University.
Bringing in a player of his caliber could definitely make the Hornets a playoff team. At 27 years old, his window probably wouldn't be that much of a misfit with that of the rest of the roster. By the time LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams hit their prime, Ingram might still be at the tail end of his.
However, the 2020 All-Star doesn't look like a great fit alongside Charlotte's offensive cornerstones.
He thrives with the ball in his hands and has, so far in his career, failed to prove that he can excel off the ball. That would mean having to go through possessions with Ball and Miller watching Ingram create his own shots, which wouldn't be ideal for the aspiring star duo's development.
Also, despite being compared to Kevin Durant in the past, the No. 2 pick of the 2016 draft hasn't displayed the ability to be a lights-out shooter from beyond the arc or stand out defensively.
So, there doesn't appear to be that much positive impact an Ingram trade would bring to the table for the Hornets, especially if such a deal would require the franchise to part ways with some of its future draft picks.
Perhaps the only reason for the team to do it is if it wants to get rid of Miles Bridges. But even that might be detrimental to the Hornets because their longest-tenure player (tied with Cody Martin) has emerged as one of the squad's leaders.
Charlotte could probably revisit the idea of acquiring Ingram next summer if it comes to the conclusion that he is the missing piece in its plans.