The Charlotte Hornets made a splash well before the trade deadline by shipping Nick Richards to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Josh Okogie and a net of two second-round picks. However, it's highly likely that the franchise is not yet done on the trade front.
There's a chance it can try to serve as a facilitator again, especially since the new collective bargaining agreement has made it a tad difficult for teams to execute direct swaps without harsh financial ramifications. The Hornets have benefitted from getting involved in the Klay Thompson blockbuster trade and the New York Knicks' acquisition of Karl-Anthony Towns.
Besides that strategy, Charlotte can also continue finding new homes for the remainder of the players that it has to get rid of before 2025 ends.
Hornets have a few more players to shop in the coming weeks
Now that it is done with the Richards assignment, the front office should have already been calling other organizations to sell some more of its veterans.
Cody Martin
The most obvious candidate to be moved is Cody Martin, who has suited up for the Hornets since 2019. While the team has included him prominently in the rotation in the past years, it would be better to turn him into a few assets instead of holding onto him. Martin may have been one of Charlotte's best wing defenders, but his lack of offensive consistency has made him look unplayable.
With Okogie now in the fold, the North Carolina native has become more expendable than ever. On the other hand, people's opinions are divided on whether the team should. Some believe the front office will move the former Suns swingman before the trade deadline, considering the financial ramifications of its deal with Phoenix. If that turns out to be the case, Charlotte might opt not to get rid of Martin.
Vasilije Micic
Another trade piece the Hornets have to try to flip for assets is Vasilije Micic. The Serbian point guard has already frustrated many fans because of his inability to be a serviceable player for the Hive. It's a bit unfortunate, as there were hopes he would be useful for Charlotte, given his international hoops pedigree.
Perhaps his game is just not cut out for the NBA. There are even rumors the former EuroLeague MVP is planning to leave the U.S.-based league and play across the Atlantic Ocean next season. Trading for a short-term rental in exchange for assets would be unwise for other teams, so that means the Hornets could be stuck with Micic until the end of the 2024-25 campaign, that is if they don't waive him first.
Josh Green
While there are strong arguments to sell Cody and Vasa before the deadline, the Hornets faithful are probably split on what the franchise should do with Josh Green. Earlier this season, we could make a case that he might have made the Dallas Mavericks regret giving him up in the Klay Thompson deal. That is simply not true anymore, even if Thompson hasn't lived up to expectations in Dallas.
Green's efficiency, particularly from the long distance, has continued to dip since the start of his Hornets tenure. And he hasn't redeemed himself on defense to make him worth sticking with as a starter. Maybe it's time for the team to cut its losses and look for ways to swap the Australian swingman for more valuable pieces.