The Charlotte Hornets are coming to a crossroads. Even though most of their key players have returned, roster flaws have become more evident.
Only time will tell how the Hornets plan to approach the trade season. They could look at bringing in more reinforcements to address their weaknesses, which, unfortunately, they have several of. Another route the organization can take is to be a seller, as it has a few veterans for whom it might have no use in the long run.
An expendable piece Charlotte might need to part ways with is Vasilije Micic. The 30-year-old Serb has worn out his welcome among many Hornets fans, even if Charles Lee has sung nothing but his praises.
Vasa Micic still can't keep up with the pace of the modern NBA
Micic made his way to the Queen City last year as part of the deal that sent Gordon Hayward to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was probably thrown in the package to match salaries, although the Thunder had other players they could have used for that purpose.
In hindsight, there's a reason Oklahoma City was willing to give up on its Vasa Micic experiment. The former EuroLeague standout couldn't find his niche on the Thunder despite providing steady hands at the backup point guard spot.
For a while after his transfer to the Hornets, he was able to prove his playmaking prowess. After averaging 3.3 points and 2.5 assists per game in his 30 appearances in a Thunder uniform, he upped his production to 10.8 points and 6.2 assists per contest in the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign.
It appeared like Micic had locked up the role of being LaMelo Ball's understudy moving forward.
However, a string of underwhelming performances to start this season resulted in the coaching staff taking him out of the rotation. As it turned out, injuries to Ball and Tre Mann necessitated Micic's return. And while he has churned out some solid showings, he has yet to prove he can be a consistent contributor for Charlotte.
It looks like the Serbian floor general can't keep up with the speed of the modern NBA. His lack of athleticism and sense of urgency in crucial situations has been evident at times, and both Hornets and Thunder fans know it well now.
Of course, that's not to say that Charlotte shouldn't have taken Micic in the Hayward deal. After all, Mann and the second-round picks included in the package have more value for the organization. But perhaps it's time for the squad to cut its losses and just hand over the backup playmaking duties to Isaiah Wong and KJ Simpson while Mann is still out.