For some reason, the Charlotte Hornets continue to be mentioned as a possible destination for New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson. Maybe people are excited to see him come home to North Carolina, where he was born and played college. Meanwhile, some are delighted at the possibility of watching the Duke University product play alongside LaMelo Ball, as they would certainly be one of the most electrifying duos in the league.
The Pelicans' recent hiring of Joe Dumars to lead their basketball operations has given folks around the league even more reason to fire up the trade machine and find a new home for Williamson.
Interestingly, days before the Dumars announcement, Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report crafted a wild trade idea that would bring the embattled star to Charlotte. And while it has been established that acquiring Williamson would be too risky of a move for the Hornets, let's check if Bailey's proposal is worth exploring.
The trade
The pitch has Buzz City giving up a starter (Miles Bridges), a promising prospect (Tidjane Salaun), and two first-round picks (2026 and 2028).
Looking at the pieces going out, it appears the Hornets wouldn't be giving up too much for Williamson. Perhaps the former No. 1 overall pick's value has just tanked so much because of his injuries and the concerns surrounding his discipline and commitment.
A different school of thought, though, is that the Hornets might have better use for Bridges and Salaun as trade pieces if they opt to go that route. Giving both up in a Zion deal could result in some missed opportunities for the franchise to land a better package for either or both of their forwards in the future.
The picks would also be tough to let go of. However, if Charlotte believes it can turn into long-term contenders as early as next season, the 2026 and 2028 first-rounders would presumably fall in the lower half of the draft order. Besides, the Hornets' recent shrewd moves could have them equipped with extra first-round selections in 2026, which will likely land in the late 20s because of some complications with that pick, and possibly in 2028, depending on whether the Miami Heat make it to the playoffs this year.
The grade
So, would Charlotte end up benefitting from Bailey's proposal? Probably not.
Assuming the organization wouldn't perform any more major trades, it would end up with a core group of Ball, Brandon Miller, Williamson, and Mark Williams. With Ball, Williamson, and Williams currently labeled with the injury-prone tag and Miller undergoing season-ending surgery earlier this year, it wouldn't be shocking to see that foursome play musical chairs on the injury report.
Bringing in Zion would also result in an expensive payroll for the Hornets, as he and Ball are owed hefty annual salaries until 2028 and 2029, respectively. Williams and Miller will also be eligible for contract extensions soon.
So, it continues to look like Charlotte should just steer clear of Williamson.