Two weeks before the trade deadline, the Hornets joined the Knicks, Raptors and Pacers to launch hostilities. On Tuesday, the franchise sent Terry Rozier to the Heat to recover the final year of Kyle Lowry's contract and a protected first round of the Draft. With a record of 10 wins for 31 losses, LaMelo Ball's teammates will miss the playoffs for an 8th season in a row, and the leaders are already thinking about the Draft, and recovering as many choices as possible.
“I can’t dispute the fact that we are a team that is trying to build something over time, and (…) we will look for opportunities,” said GM Mitch Kupchak about the possibility of making other exchanges. “And if there’s something that comes up, we’ll look to do it.” It's as simple as that. »
Three elements could thus pack their bags. Lowry, who has just arrived, but also Gordon Hayward and Miles Bridges, both in their last year of contract. “When your balance sheet is like ours, no one is untransferable” Kupchak responded about Hayward and Bridges.
A simple stopover for Lowry
Specifically, everyone is “transferable” except LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. For Lowry, the Hornets will operate like the Jazz last season with Russell Westbrook, and it is not certain that the former NBA champion will one day wear the Charlotte jersey. A priori, the Hornets are considering cutting him, but after February 8.
“We may wait to see what happens out of respect for him and what he has accomplished in this league.”continues Kupchak. “Maybe we'll wait until the trade deadline passes rather than trading him again to a team where it's not certain that he plays. So I think (not playing him) is probably what we're going to do, but I'm not sure. But this seems like the most logical solution. »
