The Charlotte Hornets have made several moves this offseason and are weighing their options for players on their roster to get closer to contending for an NBA championship.
Despite finishing with a disappointing record of 21 wins and 61 losses in the 2024-25 NBA season, Charlotte has worked to upgrade their roster and move closer to qualifying for the Eastern Conference playoffs. The team still has a long way to go before establishing itself as a legitimate title contender, but they’ve made solid progress this offseason.
Charlotte Hornets Boast Guard Heavy Roster
Although the Hornets already have LaMelo Ball as the face of the franchise, the organization decided to trade for or re-sign several guards such as Collin Sexton, Pat Connaughton, Tre Mann, and Josh Okogie. This depth gives them flexibility but also creates some tough decisions ahead.
Given that Ball and their most recent draft acquisition, Kon Knueppel, are expected to stay with the franchise long term, Charlotte might consider trading away some of their guards to attract an experienced free agent via the trade market. The backcourt logjam could actually work in their favor if they can package the right pieces.
According to senior NBA writer Michael Scotto, “This is a move that the Hornets are looking to make. According to NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype, [Nick] Smith Jr. is a player they believe could be attainable on the trade market from Charlotte’s backcourt. [Collin] Sexton ($18.98 million) and [Pat] Connaughton ($9.42 million) are both expiring contracts and could eventually be moved.”
Since Sexton, who carries a relatively higher contract, and Connaughton, who won an NBA title with the Bucks in 2021, have significant value, the Hornets will look into trading them away and finding a younger star to complement the rest of their roster. Both players bring proven experience that contending teams covet.
Josh Okogie Decision Looms Large For Charlotte
Another guard on Charlotte’s roster they’ll consider trading is Josh Okogie. The Hornets have a decision to make on paying him a non-guaranteed $7.75 million or waiving Okogie by July 15. Time is running short, and the front office knows they need to act quickly.
Charlotte is expected to include him in a potential trade package over the next few days, or waive him if nothing materializes in time. That approach will help them get maximum value from the talent on their roster while managing their salary cap effectively.
The Hornets have had an underrated offseason and now have the assets required to pursue an experienced and established star. Although they had a poor season and many view them as a bottom-tier team, a single trade could drastically improve their situation. The Eastern Conference has several teams in similar positions, making the trade market particularly active.
Fans are left wondering which teams Charlotte could enter trade negotiations with and which stars they could ultimately add to their roster, taking a step closer to establishing themselves as postseason contenders. The next few weeks will be telling for the franchise’s direction.