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According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, the Charlotte Hornets are “ready to call in veteran players like Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward and Kelly Oubre Jr.”
Charlotte came out Saturday with the NBA’s third-worst 12-34 record. Talented guard LaMelo has his ball limited to 22 games this season and suffered a sprained ankle this week.
As a result, the Hornets will “prioritize lottery standings” for the rest of the season, Stein said.
According to Tankathon, the team has a 14% chance of winning the No. 1 pick and a 52.1% chance of winning the Top 4 pick. With an exciting 2023 class led by Victor Wenbanyama and Scoot Henderson, there are plenty of incentives for the team to earn top draft picks.
Aubre would have been the easiest trade target as an impending free agent who was very productive to start the season, averaging 20.2 points per game. Unfortunately, he tore a ligament in his left hand, requiring surgery in early January.
The forward had a 4-6 week return timeline, according to Shams Charania It’s a trade-off between the stadium and The Athletic, and it’s doubtful he’ll be back on the floor before the Feb. 9 trade deadline.
Oubre can make an impact later this year, but trading an injured player is always a risky proposition.
Hayward has also been in and out of the lineup, appearing in just 21 games this season and has been sidelined since January 2 with a hamstring injury. His 13.7 points per game is also his lowest in a full season since 2011-12.
With $31.5 million due to him in 2023-24, Hayward’s deal could be tough to move.
Rozier will be the best player available, averaging 21.0 points, 5.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game this season. His contract was originally a four-year, $96.3 million deal, but with at least two more guaranteed seasons left, it could still be an issue.
Teams should be willing to make a long-term commitment to trade the 28-year-old guard.
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