There have been no indications that the Charlotte Hornets are going to make a huge splash in the trade market this season. However, the myriad of injuries and the continued development of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller might push the front office to consider upgrading the roster.
A case can be made that Mark Williams should be untouchable in trade talks, although the rumor is that the organization is willing to put that tag only on Ball and Miller. Perhaps if Williams hasn't had to deal with injuries, the latest of which has been quite concerning, he won't be treated as expendable.
Still, the Hornets should know better than just giving up their starting center in any trade. The price has to be right.
The trade
What if the price is Jusuf Nurkic and a future first-round pick?
Our friends from Valley of the Suns crafted a trade proposal between the Hornets and Phoenix Suns that is seemingly beneficial for both franchises. The swap has Charlotte giving up Mark Williams and Grant Williams in exchange for Nurkic and the Suns' 2031 first-round pick.
At 30 years old, Nurkic doesn't exactly fit the timeline of the Hornets' core players, although his strengths could prove useful for the Hive squad. However, the real prize of the trade would be that juicy draft selection.
The question is whether the team is ready to give up on the injury-plagued Mark Williams, who, in his first campaigns in the NBA, has showcased the potential to one day be an elite big man. Grant Williams would also have to be included to match salaries, and the Hornets are probably willing to ship him out, especially now that he is slated to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
The grade
Nurkic would certainly be an interesting trade target for Charlotte because he would give the squad a proven interior presence.
The veteran's rebounding this season has been superior, as he currently leads all players in defensive rebound percentage. In addition, he ranks third between Andre Drummond and Hornets youngster Moussa Diabate in total rebound percentage.
Offensively, the "Bosnian Beast" has a more diverse repertoire than Mark Willams at this point. In broken possessions or cases of a mismatch, the Hornets could dump him the ball inside the paint. Perhaps his most valuable strengths for the team are his effectiveness as a screen-setter and his ability to extend his range to the 3-point line. Having Nurkic at the pivot could do wonders for Charlotte's struggles on offense.
But, as mentioned, landing the Suns center is secondary to acquiring the first-round pick in 2031, even if there is a long way to go before it conveys to the Hornets.
There is good reason to believe the selection would come early in the first round. Phoenix's win-now mentality could have the squad mortgaging its future to bolster the roster around Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. However, by the 2030-31 campaign, Durant will almost surely be retired, and Booker will have just turned 34.
So, that pick looks like it will be a coveted asset. Would that be enough for the Hornets to give up the Williamses? The organization would likely be intrigued, at least.