The Charlotte Hornets may be a couple of pieces away from becoming a legitimate contender, and they should check out the possible Giannis Antetokounmpo disaster brewing on the Milwaukee Bucks. However, instead of waiting to pounce on the opportunity to grab the Greek superstar, they should target Myles Turner.
It's more likely that Antetokounmpo will eventually retire in Milwaukee. Still, there is a slight chance that he leaves if he believes the Bucks have become incapable of helping him bag at least one more championship. It is also for that reason why there is virtually no chance of the "Greek Freak" swapping the Cream City for the Queen City.
If Antetokounmpo is indeed a goner, Milwaukee has no more reason to hold onto its veterans, which it could use to secure assets that would help the rebuilding cause. Turner, who is turning 30 in March, would be a prime candidate to be shipped out in that scenario.
Myles Turner would almost be the ideal anchor for Hornets
Interestingly, the sweet-shooting rim protector had regularly been brought up in trade speculations and rumors during his first 10 seasons in the league when he was still a part of the Indiana Pacers. The Hornets were among the many teams mentioned as a possible destination. Evidently, no trade ever materialized, as his move to Milwaukee this summer was through free agency.
Turner would have been (and would still be) a great fit in Charlotte because of his ability to space the floor on offense, having splashed a career-high 2.2 3-pointers per game in the 2024-25 campaign. He would also be the perfect solution to the squad's woes in the interior defense department, as he has averaged 2.2 blocks per game in his career. Think of him as a much better version of Ryan Kalkbrenner.
Moreover, his athleticism could allow Charles Lee to put him on the floor alongside Moussa Diabate in twin-tower lineups. That could mask Turner's shortcomings as a rebounder. Even a combination of Kalkbrenner and Turner might work against certain matchups.
The only downside to bringing in the two-time NBA blocks leader is that he doesn't exactly fit the timeline of the Hornets' core pieces. Charlotte would presumably be fine with it, as Turner wouldn't be counted on to be a star for the franchise, and he would come with a surprisingly affordable contract.
Unfortunately, the likelihood of bringing in the two-way big man seems slim. It would depend on Antetokounmpo doing something unexpected and Milwaukee agreeing to any offer from the Hornets.