The Charlotte Hornets got what they wanted.
They moved on from their longtime, talented but volatile point guard, LaMelo Ball. In the process, they acquired a difference-making big man in Naz Reid and a host of quality draft assets. It’s a move that could benefit this young ascending Eastern Conference team to a great degree as it tries to take the next step into bona fide playoff contention. It’s probably exactly what young players like Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller need to feel empowered as the franchise’s clear cornerstones for the future.
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Now, instead of doing something rash like trading for Jaylen Brown, the Hornets should pivot elsewhere. Brown is the kind of forward who likely wants his own team. He’s not exactly the kind of mature adult you want around a young squad trying to find itself and build calluses for a potential extended contention window. No, no. That move wouldn’t make much sense on paper.
Instead, the Hornets should trade for another volatile point guard, Ja Morant. I know, it sounds hypocritical of me to push another kind-of-sort-of immature player like Morant onto the Hornets. Brown, for one, certainly has a better track record. And why would Charlotte, at face value, want someone like Morant after willingly moving off Ball? It doesn’t quite add up. But stick with me here.
But Morant is in the reclamation project stage of his career. He hasn’t been an All-Star-caliber player for three seasons. Call it a hunch, but I think he’s extra motivated to prove he can last as a trustworthy court-tilter while stepping aside for bright teammates with promise, like those he would have in Charlotte. Morant may never be that sort of star player again, but I do think he has enough juice to be a quality starter/cog in a Hornets team with a gaping hole at point guard now. Effectively, if Charlotte traded for Morant, they would have had the same sort of starting lineup they would have had with Ball, except now they have Reid and a bunch of great draft capital for the future.
And if Morant doesn’t work out? The Hornets can pivot rather easily off of him before they’re in too deep.
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No harm. No foul.
To me, the Hornets acquiring Morant would be a no-brainer. It’s a calculated and fun risk that wouldn’t inflict all that much damage on Charlotte if it didn’t work out.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Hornets should trade for Ja Morant, not Jaylen Brown after LaMelo Ball deal
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