The Charlotte Hornets are heading into the draft with the sixth-overall pick, which could give them a chance to add another young player to their core in hopes of brightening their future.
However, what if the Hornets decided not to make the pick? Rather than bringing in another super young player who may need extra development, why not trade for a player who can help LaMelo Ball compete for the playoffs right away?
There are a few win-now players who could be available on the market, and teams may be willing to trade up in the draft to snag players they like.
With that in mind, here are five trades with the No. 6 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft that would help the Hornets and Ball compete next year.
1. Zach LaVine
This fit is wholly imperfect, as Zach LaVine is an imperfect player, but he would undoubtedly step in as one of the Charlotte Hornets’ top players for the next few years.
The Chicago Bulls just traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey. This may not signal a full-on rebuild, but the Bulls are definitely looking to shake things up.
On top of that, there have been a ton of rumors in recent weeks that Chicago is looking to move on from LaVine this summer, and they seem relatively desperate to do so.
That said, the Hornets could be a much better fit for LaVine than the Bulls are. Playing next to a top-tier point guard and playmaker like Ball would be a massive help.
LaVine’s shooting and shot creation would give Charlotte’s offense a nice boost, though their defense wouldn’t get much help. Overall, however, this would make the Hornets better.
At this point, the Bulls likely just want to get off of LaVine’s contract, so the Hornets probably wouldn’t have to pay a super high price. In return for LaVine, the Bulls would get to move up five spots in the draft, get salary-filler, and add two second-round picks.
Chicago has reportedly been looking to move up in the draft to land Donovan Clingan, too, so this could help them do that.
2. Santi Aldama
Like the Chicago Bulls, the Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly hoping to trade up in this year’s draft to draft UConn big man Donovan Clingan, who is fresh off of winning two National Championships in college.
Clingan’s presence in the Grizzlies’ frontcourt would be ideal, as he would likely pair perfectly alongside former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr.
This is a simple deal all around. In exchange for the Grizzlies moving up three spots in the draft, and into a position to select Clingan, the Charlotte Hornets would get Santi Aldama.
Aldama is only 23 years old and just enjoyed the best season of his career as Memphis was marred with injuries and suffered a very tough setback season.
Alongside the likes of Grant Williams, Brandon Miller, and the rest of Charltot’s forwards, Aldama would provide them with quality defense and floor-spacing, all at 6-foot-11.
Plus, they would likely still be in range to select a majority of the prospects they were looking at with the sixth pick in the draft. Guys like Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht, Providence’s Devin Carter, and G League Ignite’s Ron Holland could all be available at pick nine.
On the flip side, while the Grizzlies may not want to part ways with Aldama, this would be a fairly simple way for them to move up in the draft in hopes of taking Clingan.
Obviously, the Grizzlies would almost certainly wait to make a deal like this until they are sure Clingan would be available at pick six, but if he is, this deal could benefit both sides.
3. Collin Sexton
Yet another team looking to trade up in the draft to take Donovan Clingan (essentially the premise for this article), the Utah Jazz have the pieces to make a deal with the Charlotte Hornets.
There have been rumors floating around that the Jazz are willing to trade Sexton this summer, and this deal could provide them with a pathway to do that while also getting something they want.
Throughout the course of his career, Sexton has made a name for himself as a hard-nosed player who always gives his all when he’s on the court. The Hornets could use a guy like that.
He’s a bit undersized, but with the constant energy he brings to the court, he could help Charles Lee transform how the Hornets play on that end of the floor.
Plus, whether he comes off the bench or plays next to LaMelo Ball in the starting backcourt, Sexton’s additional scoring punch would give Charlotte another outlet to run through.
For the Jazz, this deal would allow them to move up four picks in the draft, ideally in a position to select Clingan, while also adding a future first-round pick. Davis Bertans would be in the deal to match salaries.