Trades
The other big pleasant surprise goes hand in hand with the last one, and that is the trades that were made and the immediate positive impact. As I mentioned it was clear what needed to be done, but I still had my doubts as to whether or not it would happen.
To see the team be proactive in moving Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, and P.J. Washington was an excellent sign of things to come and the direction of the franchise. The front office was obviously reluctant to make any changes that involved even a minor step back, so to go all in on rebuilding has been a breath of fresh air.
Already adding multiple first-round picks and a couple of seconds is a great start, and shows the organization is now focused on the right things. I’ve been scarred for years, but still, this has been a great surprise to see ownership come in and actually enact major change.
The return from these trades has also been a great part of the surprise, as Grant Williams, Seth Curry, Vasilije Micic, Tre Mann, and Davis Bertans have all been excellent fits on and off the court. There is a newfound hope and enthusiasm around this team, and the new guys are a massive part of it.
It feels like a culture shift is happening in Charlotte, and it’s largely thanks to these trades. The fact that it has finally happened, and seemingly all happened so fast has been an amazing surprise for Hornets fans, and one that is creating optimism around the team that hasn’t been seen in years.