5 Outside the box trades the Hornets should make to acquire dream targets
By Ben Handler
Simmons to CHA trade
I can’t imagine there have been many teams in the NBA that are picking up the phone to call the Nets and proactively reaching out to acquire Ben Simmons. But in the Hornets’ current state, it could actually be a sharp move.
The Hornets would be throwing Brooklyn a get-out-of-jail-free card, and letting them out of one of the worst contracts in the league a year and a half early. With Hayward’s contract set to expire, the Nets could suddenly have a nice chunk of cap space this offseason, and a ton of flexibility to try and add a true star player to play alongside Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson in New York.
They should be happy to pay two second-rounders to create this kind of flexibility, and may even be willing to give up more if the Hornets are lucky. If Hayward can get healthy he could even fit in well as a veteran role player and may be willing to re-sign to a cheaper deal if things go well.
The Hornets get a pair of future picks from a team whose future is murky at best. But they also get a chance to rejuvenate Ben Simmons. Charlotte is about as far out of the limelight as it gets in the NBA. Simmons could avoid that and simply focus on basketball.
If he can maintain good health, he’d be an amazing reclamation project for the Hornets on the court as well. Simmons could slot in as a point forward and could form an elite defensive frontcourt alongside Mark Williams. Ben could also play the 5 in small-ball lineups and be surrounded by four shooters.
The Hornets would immediately become a super fun run-and-gun team with a real identity, and one that could actually get some stops once in a while to boot. This is obviously a risk, and a massive gamble on upside and Simmons returning to a form that hasn’t been seen consistently in years.
But it’s a gamble the Hornets can afford to take, and if it pays off it would instantly make them one of the most compelling teams in the league. If it doesn’t work out, they’ll still have gained two second-round picks at virtually no cost and will have another big expiring contract for next year.