Grade the Trade: Mock sees Hornets franchise-altering player in 3-team trade

Grade the Trade: Hornets land Reed Sheppard, change the course of their franchise

Incoming: No. 3 pick (Reed Sheppard), Cam Whitmore, Jock Landale

Outgoing: Miles Bridges, No. 6 pick

This is an absolutely perfect trade for the Charlotte Hornets. If this deal were to be put on the table, they should accept it immediately and pray that nothing goes wrong in the process.

The fact that they would be trading Miles Bridges, who, again, shouldn’t be in the league, while simultaneously landing Cam Whitmore and moving three spots up in the draft is an absolute dream.

In Zach Buckley’s mock draft, they would take Reed Sheppard with the third pick. Sheppard is the type of player who would change the course of the Hornets franchise forever.

There is no guaranteed first-overall pick this year, and Sheppard just might be the best player in the class. He’s a pest on defense, but his real highlight if his offensive game.

Sheppard is a knock-down three-point shooter, a solid shot-creator, and has the potential to become an elite secondary playmaker, which would be perfect for the Hornets.

Plus, Whitmore was projected to be a top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft before he slipped in the draft. And as he played more and more for the Houston Rockets last year, he showed signs of his true potential.

This trade would be a dream for Charlotte.

Grade: A+++++

Potential starting lineup: LaMelo Ball, Reed Sheppard, Brandon Miller, Cam Whitmore, Mark Williams