Entering a pivotal offseason, the Charlotte Hornets figure to have several different avenues available to improve the roster this summer. The good news is, after finishing just 27-55, the Hornets can’t get much worse next year, especially if Miles Bridges returns to the court after missing the entire season with off-court legal troubles.
For now, the Hornets have the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Not strong enough position to land Victor Wembanyama, but still good enough to potentially land a franchise-altering player at the top of the draft.
But one of the top projected players is 6-foot-2 guard Scoot Henderson, who may not be an ideal fit next to LaMelo Ball in Charlotte. Yet, plenty of other teams see the value in the explosively athletic ball-handler who is still quite raw offensively. Plus, Alabama’s Brandon Miller offers an intriguing alternative for those looking for a scoring wing instead.
There’s also a chance that Charlotte prefers to trade their top pick, either to land a player who can help them win right away or possibly just to find pieces that better fit their current roster structure.
If so, one option could be discussing a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, who reportedly have their eye on Henderson, according to Fan Duel’s Shams Charania.
Charania’s recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show revealed that the Hornets would be interested in a trade centered around Pelicans’ All-Star scoring forward Brandon Ingram. While that may not be the Pelicans player some Hornets fans had in mind, Zion Williamson is still likely off-limits in all trade discussions this summer.
Still, Ingram has averaged north of 20 points per game in each of the past four seasons and would provide a strong complementary scoring option next to LaMelo Ball in Charlotte. Best of all, he’s still just 25 years old and would fit their competitive timeline too. Ingram has a $33.8 million salary for 2023-24 and a $36 million rate for 2024-25 before hitting free agency.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans would be getting their point guard of the future with Henderson, forming a dynamic duo with Williamson for years to come. It’s a gamble, trading a proven All-Star for a prospect who may not even develop into a capable rotational player, but the upside on Henderson may make this deal worth swinging for New Orleans.
Related: 50 Best NBA players of 2023: Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic headline list