Don't expect the Charlotte Hornets to trade for a big fish just for the sake of doing it. Team president Jeff Peterson has kept on reiterating their stance of not cutting corners in creating a contender in Charlotte. He shared the same message recently, as seen on the trailer for the upcoming video, "Real Access | Laying the Foundation" on the Hornets' YouTube channel.
Peterson said, "There's going to be a time that we cash in. We take all of our chips — assets, whatever it is — and we're gonna go get that guy." For the 35-year-old executive, it's more important for now to stay committed to the process and "lay the foundation with winners."
Some may have wondered why the organization didn't seem to bother looking for a star to pair with LaMelo Ball when it probably had a few choices available via trade. Aside from the front office likely thinking that its trade options wouldn't have been true game-changers, it might already have a plan to make a more impactful trade sometime in the future.
The Hornets have stayed par for the course, increasing their draft capital further, drafting versatile, high-character rookies, and bringing in new players who will be off the books next summer if things don't pan out well. That sure sounds like a well-grounded strategy, something the franchise hasn't had in a very long while.
Hornets fans have to practice more patience
Unfortunately for those who dream of watching Charlotte finally end its protracted playoff drought, they may have to wait some more. On a positive note, the team's goal is to reach multiple postseasons in the future, rather than get stuck in mediocrity.
Another silver lining is that this year's Finals showed that squads don't have to be top-heavy anymore to increase their chances of legitimately competing for the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
The reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, featured a superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a star sidekick in Jalen Williams, a rising star in Chet Holmgren, and a collection of role players who bought into the club's philosophy. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference champs, the Indiana Pacers, possessed nearly the same template, having been led to the title bout by Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.
A case can be made that Charlotte already has the pieces it needs to eventually transform from an erstwhile cellar-dweller into a more competitive team. Ball has shown flashes of superstar potential, and Brandon Miller has the tools to become an All-Star-level player one day. Kon Knueppel could also develop into a star if things fall into place.
Even more key players could be coming to the Hive in the next years, as Peterson is armed with assets that he apparently intends to cash in on when the time is right. The Hornets have a nice swarm of future draft picks and tradable players that they could use to land the missing pieces they think they need.
Naturally, the Hornets faithful must learn to endure some more losing before a break in the cloud emerges. Then again, it's also plausible that Charlotte starts its competitive phase as early as the 2025-26 campaign. Such a scenario, where the franchise racks up more wins than losses consistently, could even help Peterson find "that guy."