Now that the Charlotte Hornets have shipped Nick Richards to the Phoenix Suns, some fans are wondering if the team also plans to trade Vasilije Micic.
It's tough to be the Serbian point guard right now, as his reputation has taken a hit this season because of his subpar play. He probably didn't think that his Charlotte tenure would turn out badly, considering that he is a former EuroLeague MVP and how well he performed in 30 games wearing a Hornets jersey last season.
After a trade deadline deal saw him jump from the Oklahoma City Thunder to Buzz City, Micic appeared inspired, averaging 10.8 points and 6.2 assists per contest. However, his numbers this campaign have significantly dipped (6.8 points and 3.5 assists per match).
Vasa Micic's purported plans for the 2025-26 season revealed
Pinning the blame on Micic for Charlotte's struggles is unfair, but he hasn't helped himself by performing poorly on both ends of the floor.
The 31-year-old playmaker's shot selection has been terrible, and he has been mostly ineffective in setting his teammates up on offense. Intriguingly, European point guards are supposed to be adept pick-and-roll handlers, but for some reason, he is one of the worst in the league this season in running that play.
On defense, some Hornets fans have described Micic as a cone because of his inability to stay in front of his opponent. Advanced stats show that he might very well be Charlotte's worst defender in the 2024-25 campaign.
It's becoming more evident by the day that Micic should not be a part of the franchise's long-term plans. A question now is why the Hornets have held onto him instead of swapping him out for spare parts. Perhaps the market is just dry.
Or maybe it has something to do with the Serb's plan next season.
Rumor has it that he plans on returning to the EuroLeague. He has even reportedly been in contact with one of his former teams, KK Crvena Zvezda. Other clubs would also likely be interested in signing the European star.
If Micic does intend to bring his talents back across the Atlantic Ocean, no NBA team would attempt to surrender assets to acquire him before the trade deadline unless a championship contender values him as a game-changing addition. The Denver Nuggets were thought of as a possible destination, given his connection with Nikola Jokic. However, that ship has likely sailed because of Russell Westbrook's resurgence.
So, it appears the Hornets are stuck with Micic for the time being unless they waive him before the season ends.
Interestingly, Micic has a team option for the 2025-26 campaign, but it's safe to assume that the organization wouldn't want to pay him $8.1 million next season.