RealGM

Brainstorming exercise:

Now that the MLE can be used as a trade exception, and given Hornets would have a hard time attracting free agents to take our MLE over a rival team MLE, who are the tax-troubled teams looking to send players into the MLE with no player returning, only picks?

No free agents.

Seems Charlotte has a surplus of 2nd round picks that can be sent to the team slashing payroll. With 7 rookie scale contracts, half the roster is already cost-controlled.

What archetype/position should Peterson target?

I guess this is indirectly gaging the best player we can add this season without surrendering any of our 8 tradeable 1st round picks.

With 7 rookie scale contracts (+ Moussa cheap), we are already looking ahead at the 2026 draft. We are extending the rebuild window, so rebuild teams favor harvesting/preserving 1st round picks.

But we have some decent 2nd round picks:

2027 Pelicans
2029 Suns
2031 Suns

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/rankings/player/_/year/2025/sort/cap_total

we would be looking for players ranked #117 and down

Would not hate acquiring Portis, Olynyk, TIme Lord, or Valanciunas to help our frontcourt along.

The PG situation for players in this price range is limited. I doubt TJ McConnell is attainable, but I'd do nasty thangz to get him as Melo's backup. Conley would be cool too. but I think our best targets for PGs are the free agents. CP3, Brogdon, Russell, Tyus Jones, Schroeder... the latter three of which have to know that they would be in line for extended starter minutes in the case of any LaMelo injury.