It's looking increasingly like the Charlotte Hornets are on their way to another losing season. That might be brutal to hear, but the team has shown no signs of becoming world-beaters this season. They might be several pieces from truly becoming a contender.
The silver lining is that ending up with one of the worst records this campaign could give them a higher chance of drafting Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, or V.J. Edgecombe. Any of those prospects will certainly make the Hornets better.
However, there is still half a year before the organization can reinforce the squad with a rookie. Now, its focus lies on tweaking the roster to either seek an upgrade to finish the season strong or bring back assets that are geared toward the future.
Hornets have some incentive to trade Nick Richards
A name that has been brought up in the media recently about trade discussions is Nick Richards. According to Jake Fischer (subscription required), the Hornets "might not be able to resist" shipping him because of his bargain deal. He has a salary of $5 million this year and next season before hitting free agency in the 2026 offseason.
Some months ago, the Jamaican center had been mentioned as a potential target for the New York Knicks. Then, right before the regular season started, the Los Angeles Lakers were reportedly linked to Richards as they looked to bolster their big man depth.
Obviously, Charlotte has retained him, and he proved worth keeping in the season's early going. He averaged 13.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 65.6 percent from the field in his first four appearances. The Hornets went 2-2 during that stretch. Unfortunately, an injury stopped Richards in his tracks, causing him to stay on the sidelines for nearly a month.
He seems to be at full strength now, although Mark Williams' return has relegated him from the starting lineup to the bench. Still, it makes sense for the team to hold onto him as Williams' backup and insurance in case the projected starter gets injured again.
The good news for Charlotte is that in the event of Richards' possible departure, a young big man is waiting in the wings to step up. Moussa Diabate has shown the potential to earn more minutes with his rebounding, defense, and hustle.
Interestingly, the Hornets' past four contests have seen Richards register a negative plus/minus each time, while Diabate has been positive every game. So, that might even be motivation for the franchise to trade the veteran.