Charlotte’s decision to trade LaMelo Ball shocked plenty of people around the league, especially after the Hornets finished last season playing their best basketball in years.
From January one through the end of the regular season, Charlotte went 33-16 while posting the NBA’s top-ranked offense and the fifth-ranked defense.
The Hornets won 44 games, their highest total in a decade, leaving many fans wondering why the franchise would move on from Ball instead of building around him.
Hornets president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson explained why the organization believed it was the right time to make such a significant move, speaking to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.
“These decisions are challenging at times, but when you look at the totality of the season and everything of where we were, it’s important to take an honest look in the mirror of where you guys are as a team,” Peterson explained. “And that’s what I had to do at the end of the season. And it just felt like the goal is never to compete for a play-in spot. The goal isn’t to get to the play-in or even the playoffs for one year.
“I’ve said it plenty of times since I’ve been here in Charlotte: The goal is to get to the playoffs and stay there for a long time. And eventually contend to compete for championships. Getting Naz Reid when you can get a player of his caliber. And of course, the draft capital and the flexibility just felt like it was something that was able to achieve multiple goals in one transaction.”
Charlotte received a significant return in the deal, acquiring Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and three second-round selections.
As Youngmisuk noted, Peterson wasn’t judging the team solely on its late-season surge.
Charlotte needed overtime to get past Miami in the Play-In Tournament before being comfortably eliminated by an Orlando team that was missing key players.
Rather than viewing the strong finish as proof the Hornets had arrived, the front office saw an opportunity to reshape the roster while Ball’s value was at its highest.
The Hornets are now expected to build around Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and Reid, while Coby White takes over point guard duties.
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