At the conclusion of the NBA Draft Lottery, Mitch Kupchak spoke about his team having 5 picks this draft, and the unlikelihood of there being an additional five 19-year-olds on the roster next season, citing it as unrealistic. This leaves the Hornets two options; either we can trade out of this draft, or trade up.
Trade 1: OKC Thunder
(Above) Terry Rozier
Hornets receive:
Pick 12 (via OKC)
Thunder receive:
Terry Rozier (23.2M/3 yrs)
Pick 27 (via Denver)
Pick 41 (via OKC)
The Hornets receive a second lottery pick, giving them an opportunity to take players such as Bilal Coulibaly, Taylor Hendricks, or Gradey Dick, which helps build out the teams depth as they seek to catapult themselves into playoff contention. They also rid themselves of Rozier's staggering contract, giving them more cap space to potentially add an all-star caliber player, or multiple solid rotational pieces this off-season.
The Thunder receive an elite backup PG behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with another first and second, which they could re-route to build out their rotation. While many may argue that paying Terry Rozier 23 million for three years isn't a viable option, but the fact is the Thunder have a lot of young players that want a lot of money, so they may as well make use of the cap space they have while they can. This doesn't stop them from resigning their young stars, as they have their BIRD rights, allowing them to exceed the salary cap the resign them.
Trade 2: Orlando Magic
(Above) Kai Jones
Hornets receive:
Pick 6 (via Orlando)
Gary Harris (13M/1yr) (Buyout)
Magic receive:
Kai Jones (3M/2yrs)
Pick 27 (via Denver)
Pick 34 (via Charlotte)
2026 1st Round Pick (via Charlotte)
The Hornets trade up significantly, allowing them to take a potentially falling Thompson twin, or a defensive wing in Jarace Walker. This helps to add wing depth and shooting, something the Hornets have needed desperately over the last few seasons.
For the Magic, they get a low-risk, high-reward player in Kai Jones who would slot perfectly next to Paolo Banchero in the frontcourt, or be a solid backup behind Wendell Carter Jr. On top of that, they receive a number of picks to help bolster their rotation over the next few years, as they switch from a rebuilding team to a competing team. On top of that, they get a 2026 unprotected pick, and who knows what that could turn in to? Plenty can happen in 3 years, as we saw last off-season, as the future of the Hornets went from bright to cloudy at best with the arrest of Miles Bridges, over the span of just a couple of days. Now again; imagine 3 years...
Trade 3: Golden State Warriors
(Above) Jalen Hood-Schifino
Hornets receive:
Pick 19 (via GSW)
Warriors receive:
Pick 27 (via Denver)
Pick 39 (via Utah)
Pick 41 (via OKC)
2026 1st Round Pick (via Charlotte)
The Hornets, as stated by general manager Mitch Kupchak, don't need five 19-year-old projects- we need high-level talent, who have the certainty to at the bare minimum be solid rotational pieces as we catapult ourselves into playoff competition. At pick 19, we have a good chance at that, with elite prospects such as Brice Sensabaugh, G.G. Jackson, Jordan Hawkins, Bilal Coulibaly, Nick Smith Jr, and Jalen Hood-Schifino all hanging around the 19-mark.
On the Warriors' end, the dynasty is coming to a close. They will likely take one more stab at glory this season, but they need to start planning for life after the Splash Bros. So far they have a solid young base; Jordan Poole, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, and Patrick Baldwin Jr, but they need to expand on that. Rather than one big blindfolded shot, they get four, low-risk/high-gain shots at it. The final pick is 2026 unprotected, and I have already gone through the potential value of that.
Trade 4: Dallas Mavericks
Hornets receive:
Pick 10 (via Dallas)
2025 2nd Round Pick (via Dallas)
Mavericks receive:
Cody Martin (22.5M/3yrs)
Pick 27 (via Denver)
Pick 34 (via Charlotte)
Pick 41 (via OKC)
2026 1st Round Pick (Unprotected)
2029 1st Round Pick (Lottery Protected)
On the Hornets end, the again recieve a chance at elite talent to further build around their young core. We also rid ourselves of Cody Martin, who despite being a great rotational player, cant manage to stay on the floor (and when he has he looked sheepish at best). Potential prospects at number 10 include but are not limited to; Anthony Black, Cason Wallace, Ausar Thompson, Gradey Dick, Keyontae George and Leonard Miller.
For Dallas, they get back some much-needed pick equity after trades for Kristaps Porzingus and Kyrie Irving, to go along with a solid backup PG and improved perimeter defense after trading Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie.
Trade 5: Brooklyn Nets
Hornets receive:
Pick 21 (via Pheonix)
Pick 22 (via Brooklyn)
Royce O'Neal (9.5M/1yr)
Nets receive:
Pick 27 (via Denver)
Pick 34 (via Charlotte)
Pick 39 (via Utah)
Pick 41 (via OKC)
2026 1st Round (Top 10 Protected)
For Charlotte, we move up and get back to back picks significantly higher in the 1st round, at 21 and 22. We also get some elite perimeter defense and a solid sharpshooting wing to come off the bench behind Kelly Oubre, or potentially Brandon Miller. At 21 and 22 we can look to draft both an instant impact player (such as Maxwell Lewis or Jordan Hawkins), as well as a the prototypical high ceiling player the Hornets seem to love (such as Bilal Coulibaly, Sidy Cissiko, or G.G. Jackson).
On the Brooklyn side of things, they (similarly to the Mavericks) have an urgent need to replenish their pick arsenal, after trading for you-know-who and you-know-who. This gives them future draft capital, as well as extra picks for this upcoming draft. They also rid themselves of Royce O'Neal's contract, who hasn't been getting any playing time and has now fallen even further back into the rotation with the additions of Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith.
nice