RealGM

I'm sure most Hornets fans will absolutely hate this one, but here we go

Charlotte trades:

Grant Williams (3/41M remaining - out for season)
Miles Bridges (3/75)
Josh Green (3/41)
Tidjane Salaun (rookie contract)
NOP choice of Vasilije Micic or Cody Martin (TO/UNG next year)
rights to CHA 2025 1st (prot 1-3 and 15-30):
- if pick is conveyed to SAS (CHA somehow makes playoffs), then NOP receives 2027 CHA 1st (top 2 prot till 2029)
- if pick is top 3 and stays with Charlotte, then NOP receives 2026 CHA 1st (top 2 prot till 2029)
(as of today, this pick would have the 4th best odds, and have a 64% chance to convey to NOP as a pick in the #4-#8 range, odds presumably increase if Charlotte wins more down the stretch)

New Orleans trades:
Zion Williamson
Brandon Ingram
cut: Daniel Theis, Jeremiah Robinson Earl, Javonte Green (sub in a different player if any of those three are valuable to NOLA and/or trade them to Charlotte to save NOP $, doesn't impact the trade really)

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Charlotte gets aggressive and gambles next year's pick on distressed assets in Zion and Ingram in hopes they can pair nicely with the Hornets core. The Hornets are trading a potentially valuable pick here with light protection, just enough so they don't lose a can't miss prospect. The bench, already thin, gets thinner which will make for a precarious rest of the season, but this is a long-term move not just for this season. Depth can be acquired with two high 2nds next year and splitting the MLE two ways. The mere idea that all of Melo/Miller/Ingram/Zion/Williams can stay healthy for one of the next few seasons together is the most hope Charlotte's had since the 90s, and one I'd considering reaching for, however unlikely it is.

Pelicans blow it all up for a likely premium pick in the 8-10 range for next season (or higher if Charlotte/Zion stays hurt), a basically unknown rookie in Salaun (not much value really tbh), some tradeable vets, and do the same with guys like Murray and CJ. Grant Williams probably is the only negative contract coming back due to his injury, the others neutral or slight positive value.

Pelicans trade Zion/BI for 3 contracts they don't want for a single 1st?
Can't imagine they'd be interested...

That's a lot of baggage for a pick you took all the juice off of. But if you make it top 1 protected, I might take the gamble.

Yeah, this is assigning Salaun value that imo he doesn’t hold around the league.

I’d expect NOP to just tank with Zion resting if this is the best they can do. They won 49 games last year and will project to have a better team next year to go with the top 6 pick.

If the team is terrible in 12 months, go full rebuild then. Murray and Zion will hold their value..

yet another Zion trade with nothing in it for the Pels only this one comes with unwanted salary.

Again his contract has outs. So just getting off it or in this case also just tossing BI in for free just isn't that valuable to them.

Nets trading Simmons and a pick with some real upside variance? Sure. But these proposals we keep getting where he gets to our team for just stuff we don't want? I just can't see the Pels doing it.

One of the most lopsided trades in a minute.

14 million for Grant to miss the season
14 million for Green is not quite a bargain
25 million for expensive inefficient volume scorer with you character issues.

I would want the hornets pick for taking those 53 million dollar worth of contract. Much less sending Zion and Ingram on top.

Seems a Hornet fan remains in denial a team slotted 4th prior to the lottery is *gasps*, a seller.

Just like they were last deadline dealing peripheral pieces who were not part of the young core (Rozier, Hayward, PJ Washington).

Although I approve Hornets selling again, I don't need nor expect anything more than minor deals for second round picks.

The most likely trade candidates are just two - Nick Richards and Cody Martin. Micic will be bought out.

Not sexy, but with teams ahead of the Hornets like the Nets selling their starting PG, Hornets are not going to surrender pole position in the Dylan Harper / Cooper Flagg draft.

Gonna add more second rounders to the chest on top of the 6 available firsts available for trade after the Hornets make their pick. Hornets also have pick 32 and 34.

The earliest buying we will see is the offseason. But more likely next trade deadline. Then you can add someone's name to the trade target list - Miles.

Again, not sexy but we are talking Nick Richards and Cody Martin.

Never said it wasn't boring.