It has been an up-and-down season for Vasilije Micic. He saw significant minutes in the Charlotte Hornets' first few games in the 2024-25 campaign. However, his generally underwhelming performances have left a lot to be desired and caused his removal from the rotation.
But with the Hornets missing several players due to injuries in recent weeks, coach Charles Lee has needed to put Micic back on the floor. The Serb point guard has even started the past five games, occasionally putting up decent production, including a 14-point, 12-assist showing in a blowout loss to the New York Knicks.
As Charlotte will continue to be without LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann for several more games, Micic will likely remain in the rotation for the foreseeable future.
Micic's time with the Hornets is up
On the flip side, perhaps it's time for the front office to try seeing what the 30-year-old floor general is worth in the trade market. During the summer, his name popped up as a potential target for the Denver Nuggets. His friendship with Nuggets superstar and compatriot Nikola Jokic has been well-documented, and the Western Conference powerhouse might need a roster reinforcement.
At 11-10, Denver hasn't looked like a legitimate contender in the 2024-25 campaign. It definitely didn't on Saturday after succumbing to the league-worst Washington Wizards, who also happened to enter the matchup with a 16-game losing streak.
Jokic did his best to carry his team, scoring a career-high 56 while recording 16 rebounds and eight assists. But without starters Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets didn't have enough weapons to defeat the 3-18 Wizards.
The three-time MVP expressed frustration with his teammates, implying that some of them should be benched or have their paychecks slashed because that's how it's done in his country. Maybe it's time for the big man to ask the organization to bring in someone who hails another player from Serbia.
Of course, Micic's work ethic hasn't exactly been praiseworthy in Charlotte, and his defense, one of Denver's weaknesses, remains suspect. However, his value for the Nuggets would lie in his ability to placate Jokic. Besides, maybe a change of scenery is what he needs to play with more effort.
It might be counterintuitive for the Hornets, though, to get rid of a healthy player while dealing with what looks like an injury epidemic. However, some solid performances from rookie KJ Simpson might signal that perhaps Lee should entrust him with more playing time and allow him to learn from his mistakes.
In addition, recent two-way acquisition Isaiah Wong had an impressive debut for the Hornets. Nick Smith Jr. and DaQuan Jeffries have also made their case to soak up more minutes at the backcourt.
So, it seems like it's time for the Hive to bid farewell to Micic and open up more opportunities for the younger players.