RealGM

I assume New Orleans wants to get under tax apron and try to to create more cap flexbility to re-sign Ingram

Based on that, ill offer this idea:

To Charlotte
-CJ McCollum (2 years, $63.3 million)
-Javonte Green (1 year, $2 million)

To New Orleans
-Josh Green (3 years, $41 million)
-Cody Martin (1 year, $8.1 million plus T.O.)
-Vasili Micic (1 year, $7.7 million plus T.O.)
-2026 Denver 2nd round pick
-2031 Denver 2nd round pick

Why?
-The Hornets bolster starting 5 as they can run with Ball/McCollum/Miller/Bridges/Williams next season
-The Pelicans get under tax apron, create $15-16 million more cap flexibility for off-season and get 2 2nds for dealing a starter.

not interested. More than happy letting Smith and Mann work out the kinks/injury issues and hoping one of them blossoms into 75% of CJ at 25% the salary in a couple years

McCollum's archetype is the one area I'd turn down an obvious upgrade at, as it's not one we particularly need on this team anyway, we need a big wing to slot in between Miller and Bridges.

HornetJail wrote:not interested. More than happy letting Smith and Mann work out the kinks/injury issues and hoping one of them blossoms into 75% of CJ at 25% the salary in a couple years

McCollum's archetype is the one area I'd turn down an obvious upgrade at, as it's not one we particularly need on this team anyway, we need a big wing to slot in between Miller and Bridges.

Seems like scoring is a need for Hornets and with 1 year remaining, McCollum is a stop gap option until developing assets become greater scorers both from a production and efficiency standpoint.

Perhaps the move like this is during the summer. I do not think Charlotte wants to win much more than necessary. Staying in the top 5 of the draft brings in the SG they need - Harper/Edgecombe.

You're not wrong that Charlotte needs scoring but more of it needs to come from the frontcourt.

I think something could be worked out in the offseason if we strike out on vet targets A-J, I just don't think this team needs to be any more perimeter heavy than it already is, and CJ's salary would take us out of the running for any FA frontcourt player

HornetJail wrote:You're not wrong that Charlotte needs scoring but more of it needs to come from the frontcourt.

I think something could be worked out in the offseason if we strike out on vet targets A-J, I just don't think this team needs to be any more perimeter heavy than it already is, and CJ's salary would take us out of the running for any FA frontcourt player

Is Julius Randle the target?

Bentley1225 wrote:

HornetJail wrote:You're not wrong that Charlotte needs scoring but more of it needs to come from the frontcourt.

I think something could be worked out in the offseason if we strike out on vet targets A-J, I just don't think this team needs to be any more perimeter heavy than it already is, and CJ's salary would take us out of the running for any FA frontcourt player

Is Julius Randle the target?

Hope not, but maybe. There are worse stopgaps, I just wouldn't want him long term

HornetJail wrote:

Bentley1225 wrote:

HornetJail wrote:You're not wrong that Charlotte needs scoring but more of it needs to come from the frontcourt.

I think something could be worked out in the offseason if we strike out on vet targets A-J, I just don't think this team needs to be any more perimeter heavy than it already is, and CJ's salary would take us out of the running for any FA frontcourt player

Is Julius Randle the target?

Hope not, but maybe. There are worse stopgaps, I just wouldn't want him long term

Just seems to me the Hornets need to just keep building organically and bring in right veterans to fill gaps much like this OP.

Hornets GM has said he wants to build a sustainable winning model so he won't sacrifice for short term gains.

Hornets will not buy vets at this deadline.

We traded for Okogie who's in his prime at 26.

So, check out the Bulls firesale, and bring us similarly aged role players who can help us win sustainably.

Otherwise, peel off our short-term bandaids so we can better tank.

Instant gratification targets like Zion and McCollum just don't work for the Hornets. We are growing organically, incrementally, carefully.

I expect measured moves like Okogie.