A surprise deadline deal for the Charlotte Hornets?

At this point in the season, with the NBA trade deadline just around the corner, it is pretty clear that the Charlotte Hornets should be in sell mode. Charlotte's 9-31 record, paired with their league-worst scoring differential (-11.5), has put them in a position to be one of the few teams who are expected to sell. While there is a belief that there will be at least one player removed from the equation, there is one player in particular being linked to a contending team out west.

Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley put together 2024 NBA Trade Deadline Surprises That Could Actually Happen, and it has Charlotte being involved in a deal that bolsters the lineup of the Los Angeles Lakers. Buckley identified Terry Rozier as a possible option for Los Angeles in the event they do not land Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks. This comes after expecting the Lakers to go down a simliar path of last year, looking to add multiple players via trade rather than one big deal.

" It's too soon to say for certain, but Buha mentioned Bruce Brown, Jerami Grant, Terry Rozier, Gary Trent Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O'Neale as possible targets. "

- Zach Buckley on possible Lakers targets

There is still plenty of time to go before the deadline, and a lot of things can change between now and then, but it would not be surprising to see Rozier head to a contender before February 8th. Charlotte needs to understand the value that Rozier possesses and what they can get in return for his services. The Hornets must acknowledge that their best days are in front of them, and the only way to get there is to move on from players who are not going to be part of their competitive future, which is still a few years away.

Working toward acquiriing players and/or picks that will help the organization down the line must be priority number one for the Hornets. Failing to do so will only result in the continuince of irrelevant basketball in Charlotte.