NBA Trade Deadline: Hornets Stick to the Blueprint

Anyone who regularly watches HGTV or Magnolia Network knows that renovations can be tricky and the unexpected is to be expected. Whether it is the discovery of mold or termites, or outdated wiring and plumbing, rebuilding a failing property is rarely a clean and linear process. Timelines and budgets usually are adjusted. When Hornets’ General Manager Mitch Kupchak put on his Bob the Builder hardhat upon assuming his new job, he knew the Hornets’ rebuild would be one of those messy and frustrating long-term projects. Changes such as a high draft pick would be like new granite countertops in a spectacular kitchen. Other changes, such as moving out overpriced contracts, would be like changing the color of an accent wall. Subtle, but essential in improving the overall value of the property.

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and Kupchak took the accent wall approach. Like his fellow GMs, the deadline passed without so much as changing the cabinet fixtures, let alone a new countertop. The New York Knicks are regarded as having made the most significant move, trading for forward Bojan Bogdanovic from the Detroit Pistons. Other teams added supplementary pieces geared to improve depth or defense. It is unlikely that any of the moves made before the deadline will be identified as positioning a team for a championship run. Kupchak stayed true to his blueprint and made two minor moves with an eye to the days when the Hornets will be playoff contenders.

His first move was to send veteran Gordon Hayward to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Hayward had value for the Hornets as a leader on a young team and a consistent scoring target for star point guard LaMelo Ball. It is those characteristics that were appealing to the precocious Thunder franchise that currently sits a half game out of first place in the Western Conference. Hayward will be a calming voice and sounding board as the young OKC roster tries to deal with playoff pressure. In return, Kupchak acquired 23-year-old shooting guard Tre Mann and little used 31-year-old center/forward Davis Bertans. Neither player will be a key cog in any future playoff contender but might provide intangible value and leadership in a season heading off the rails.

Mann has a very affordable $4,908,373 contract for next season and becomes a restricted free agent in 2025 that requires only a tender offer of $6,964,981. If he can improve his all-around game from what he showed in Oklahoma City, Kupchak has the luxury of having a valuable bench player or yet another piece he can move to a team in a better position to contend and might surrender assets to acquire him. Bertans was buried on the Thunder bench. He was averaging 6.1 MPG and 2.9 PPG. He has a $16,000,000 non-guaranteed contract for 2024-2025. His greatest value to Charlotte is the ability to walk away from his contract without penalty this offseason. With the salary cap expected to be reduced by $1 million next season, effortlessly creating so much cap room is reason enough to acquire him.

Kupchak’s second deal of the day was more consequential to the future of the Hornets. He dealt forward P.J. Washington and two second round picks to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for forward Grant Williams, guard Seth Curry, and a 2027 first round pick. This trade was meant to address each team’s priorities. For Dallas, they add needed toughness and grit. For any successful playoff run, a team needs a willing soul to do the arduous work in the dirty areas of the court. The Mavericks also get a 25-year-old with two years remaining on his contract.

For Charlotte, there are two potential prizes in this deal. Williams signed a four year, $53,341,500 extension before the start of this season. That extension displayed the belief that he could see significant playing time and contribute on both ends of the court. Williams never meshed with Head Coach Jason Kidd’s system. Dallas rightly figured his value would not appreciate on the bench, so he was moved. If Williams regains the form that earned him that contract extension, another block has been added to the building’s foundation joining Ball and 2023 first round pick Brandon Miller. The trade allows Curry to return to his hometown. The well-traveled guard brings experience to the young Hornets. He will be called upon to run the show on the floor when Ball needs a rest or is nicked up. Curry has a non-guaranteed contract of $4 million for 2024-2025. Once again, if management sees things they like with Curry, he will be an inexpensive mentor for Ball. If they do not, he can be bought out before this season, or they can release him in the off-season.

The other prize from this trade is the first round pick. Kupchak continues to grow his treasure chest of future assets. This give him the flexibility to do multiple things. The obvious is to use the choices to add more players to his structure. He can bundle those choices to move up in any draft to target a player he covets. He can include them in a trade to get veteran players to accelerate the rebuild. Kupchak is closely following the plan of the team he did with business at the deadline, the Thunder.

Even though the trade deadline has passed, Kupchak’s work is not finished. He has the option on Bertans, Curry, and recently acquired Kyle Lowry to buy out their contracts or allow them to leave this summer. Lowry and his $44,523,810 cap hit are contenders for the buyout. Should that happen, expect him to return to his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers. Clearing all three contracts would create close to $65 million in cap space. With the league cap going down by $1 million and most teams struggling to get below that cap without significant luxury tax penalties, Kupchak can be in an enviable position. He can either pursue free agents unable to sign elsewhere to surround his young cast, or he can take on bad contracts from teams looking to shed them from their rolls. If he takes the latter course, it won’t be done out of the goodness of his own heart. Expect Kupchak to demand a high price for his cooperation. Can he do it? Time will tell.

Notes: According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Kupchak attempted to gauge the interest in forward Miles Bridges. Bridges’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, informed the Hornets the veteran would veto any trade. Bridges has this right because he was a restricted free agent last summer and signed a one year deal. The veto power enabled him to retain his Larry Bird rights. This could increase his value when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this off-season, either in a straight contract signing or in a sign-and-trade with the Hornets and his prospective new team. Reports are that the Hornets would be open to resigning Bridges to a long term contract.