The Charlotte Hornets have a long offseason ahead of them, and the biggest mystery is how Jeff Peterson plans to navigate it. One name that could quietly surface in those internal conversations is steady role player Josh Green.
Green returned from injury in December and immediately re‑established himself as a dependable 3‑and‑D presence. He defended, he hit shots, he played within the system. On paper, he’s exactly the kind of bench piece a young team should want to keep. So why would the Hornets consider moving him?
Josh Green may be the key to unlocking a blockbuster move
Green has been one of Charlotte’s most reliable rotation players. He defends multiple positions, knocks down open threes, and finished the season shooting 42.0% from deep, trailing behind Kon Knueppel (albeit on lower volume). Add in a 12.5 net rating — second‑best on the team among players with 20+ games — and it’s clear he’s been quietly excellent.
But that's also what makes him valuable on the trade market. There are various reasons why he could still be expendable in the summer.
The first being Green has an expiring contract this summer. From a financial perspective, his current deal makes him the fourth-highest salary on the roster behind LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Brandon Miller. He’s not the fourth‑best player, and Peterson may need that money to address bigger offseason priorities.
If the Hornets pursue a major trade, especially one involving a max‑level contract, multiple players with real value and a movable number has to go. Green fits that profile almost too well.
His role shrank dramatically down the stretch
Despite his strong play, Green’s minutes evaporated late in the season. He averaged just 10.3 minutes in April. In the Play-In Tournament, he logged just 15 total minutes in the most important games of the season.
The roster has simply passed him by. Knueppel and Coby White arrived and Sion James emerged. Suddenly, Green’s skill set wasn’t as essential. He can hit a corner three and defend, but the others offer more versatility, more creation, and more upside.
Once you add in the fact that expiring contracts are so valuable due to their salary cap relief function, Green’s semi-bloated contract relative to the Hornets salary cap situation makes him a contender to get axed from the roster. Green still makes sense for a roster needing his energy, defense, and reliable shooting.
Peterson may just view this as an opportunity to improve the roster. I’d hate to see Green go, but in today's NBA almost anyone can get caught in the revolving door.
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