Many Charlotte Hornets fans expected the team to make a couple more moves by the trade deadline after the Coby White deal, but only a few probably expected it to acquire Tyus Jones, a point guard who was high on my wish list before its move to get White. It probably wouldn’t have been that big a deal until it was reported that the Hornets also received two second-round picks.
Late Wednesday night, Shams Charania broke the latest Hornets trade update. This time, he reported their deal with the Orlando Magic, sending their Southeast Division rival cash considerations in exchange for Jones. However, the insider then added that Charlotte would also secure the draft capital.
By the looks of it, Jeff Peterson managed to execute another fleece job. Of course, Magic fans might disagree, as Jones was largely seen as a 2025 free agency mistake by the organization, and shipping him helps the team duck the luxury tax. The veteran floor general had once been an analytics darling for his astonishing assist-to-turnover ratio year after year. Unfortunately, his performance has taken a massive dip in Orlando.
Will Tyus Jones stay in CLT?
Perhaps the question now is whether the Hornets will retain Jones or buy him out to allow him to sign with another team.
He could be a potentially great addition because of the possibility of his genius playmaking making a comeback in Charlotte’s offensive system. But as it stands, the roster is now teeming with guards, with White expected to have locked the sixth man role, and the future of Tre Mann and Mike Conley remaining murky. Sion James had also assumed the point guard role earlier in the season, but he will likely be assigned 3-and-D responsibilities moving forward.
Whatever the Hornets decide to do with Jones, it would be easy for fans to get on board. The more valuable pieces of the trade with the Magic are arguably the second-round selections. It’s like the Hornets brought in White for free, as they have already essentially recouped the draft assets they sent out as compensation for the former Chicago Bulls’ first-round pick.
On the one hand, keeping Jones could prove to be a wise decision for the Hornets. He could serve as insurance in case LaMelo Ball has to spend some time on the sidelines again. No one is hoping for that to happen, but the franchise has to be prepared for any eventuality, as freak injuries can take place even as it has tried to manage the star’s load.
In addition, Jones could be seen as Charlotte’s only true point guard aside from Ball. While White can man the position with ease, he sometimes has the tendency to score first before making the right play.
Only time will tell what Peterson does next, but he has continued to show that fans should just trust him and let him cook.