The Charlotte Hornets' free agency went by relatively quietly, with their most noteworthy roster move probably being the re-signing of Miles Bridges. The lack of significant movement may have signified the team's plan to extend its rebuild phase by at least one more year.
If that's indeed the case, Hornets fans should continue practicing patience and hope for the best that it all works out, especially because finishing out of the playoffs this coming season will allow the organization to retain the lottery-protected 2025 first-round pick it owes to the San Antonio Spurs.
The good news for Charlotte is that it has several assets at its disposal, which could help it become a contender in the near future.
The Hornets missed out on Isaac Okoro in free agency
Perhaps the Hornets could have added one more long-term positive asset had they pursued Cleveland Cavaliers swingman Isaac Okoro seriously.
The 2020 No. 5 pick recently decided to re-up with Cleveland after months of stalemate. After the announcement of the news, Charlotte surprisingly emerged as one of the teams that reportedly showed interest in the defensive-minded wing player.
The Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets were among the teams who expressed interest in acquiring restricted free agent Isaac Okoro via sign-and-trade before he agreed to a three-year, $38 million deal to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources told @hoopshype. https://t.co/qE2PUxa6MP
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) September 14, 2024
It would have been interesting to see the Hornets bring in Okoro and give him a fresh start. It's unclear which trade pieces would have gone in a sign-and-trade deal to acquire him. But given the contract he signed with the Cavs, Charlotte probably would have needed to part ways with either Grant Williams or a combination of Cody Martin and possibly Nick Smith Jr.
Getting Okoro would have provided the Hornets with a potentially fearsome defender at the perimeter to complement LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. They might already have one in Martin, but his injury history could mean it may not be too long before he ends up on a new team.
Some might say Okoro's offensive limitations would have made him a wrong fit in Charlotte.
However, being in a different situation, one where there are not much expectations right away, unlike with the Cavs, could have been a boon to his development. Besides, he has gradually shown progress as a floor-spacer, sinking a career-high 39.1% from beyond the arc last season, albeit attempting just 3.1 shots per game from 3-point range.
In addition, Okoro probably still has his best basketball ahead of him. His timeline could have aligned perfectly with the franchise's core group of players. It's worth noting that he is in the same draft class as a trio of Hornets: Ball, Josh Green, and Nick Richards.
Unfortunately, the opportunity to pick up a potential cornerstone is now gone. Hopefully, the Hornets won't regret it.