The coming summer will present the Charlotte Hornets with plenty of opportunities to upgrade their roster and slowly creep back into playoff contention.
Of course, fans will be more than happy to watch if the Hornets miraculously turn into contenders overnight. However, such a scenario would only be possible if they could pull off game-changing roster moves, including drafting an immediate contributor, clearing up cap space to sign a big fish in free agency, and using their assets to trade for high-level players.
The most realistic path for the organization, though, is to focus on small, incremental improvements. Folks have probably started cooking up some trade ideas to help Charlotte, with Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report suggesting that the team make a play for Deandre Ayton of the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Josh Green and Jusuf Nurkic.
The move doesn't move the needle for the Hornets
It's not the first time the former No. 1 pick was brought up as a trade target for Charlotte, and this probably won't be the last. With Mark Williams' future with the franchise in limbo and the squad needing a long-term fix at the five, Ayton might continue to be mentioned as a possible solution.
There's no doubt about the Blazers big man's talent, as evidenced by his ability to average a double-double in each of the seasons he has played in the NBA. On the other hand, he has yet to disprove the perception that he lacks the motor and motivation to achieve his true potential. And the fact that he is entering his eighth year in the league is a major red flag for any possible Ayton suitor.
Besides, he has also been quite an injury-prone player, suiting up in just 55 games last campaign and already missing 26 this time around. The most he has played in a season was his rookie year when he made 71 appearances in a Phoenix Suns uniform.
So, tell me. What makes Ayton different from Williams? Wouldn't the Hornets just be better off trying to make amends with their current starting center than bringing in a similar player who is three years older and whose salary is more expensive by around $30 million?
If Charlotte does end up still shipping Williams for assets this summer, the team should look elsewhere for a replacement. The good news is that it has already found a backup center in Moussa Diabate, whose strong play in typically limited minutes has been a silver lining amid the Hornets' struggles in the 2024-25 campaign.