Why the Charlotte Hornets Do It
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At this early stage of the season, the Hornets wouldn’t seriously consider this Lakers offer.
L.A. would need the disconnect between Lee and Reid to become untenable. Reid was benched for the second half of Charlotte’s 97-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 28.
“Unfortunately, Naz didn’t meet our standards in the first half and at halftime we made the decision that he wouldn’t play in the second half,” Lee told reporters after the game. “But I look forward to him meeting those standards come next game.”
Should Reid, who is owed $80.2 million over the next three years (player option before final season), become a liability for the Hornets, the Lakers would still need to have the best offer.
Given L.A.’s lack of first-round picks and the early-season injuries to Carr and Thiero, Los Angeles would need the market for Reid to be soft. Carr, the No. 24 pick in the June draft, was a summer-league standout who played respectably through the preseason. Similarly, Thiero has significant potential but has struggled to stay healthy.
The Lakers would need to showcase the pair successfully to build their value before Charlotte even considered a deal. The Hornets would try to get the Lakers to include their two future second-rounders via the Washington Wizards (2031 and 2032), which shouldn’t be a deal-breaker for L.A.
Charlotte has already tipped its hand on Salaün by declining his option. Roster space remains an issue. The Hornets would either need to cut two players (presumably one would be Liam McNeely) before the deal with the Lakers or rope in a third team to take in McNeely and Hardy.
The Hornets would take Vanderbilt for Salaün, absorbing the other incoming Lakers into preexisting trade exceptions (Collin Sexton, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Mason Plumlee). This allows the team to generate the large exception for Reid.
Add Reid to the Lakers’ list, but for the Hornets, it’s a deal they make only right before the deadline, in the absence of better offers, assuming Reid proves to be miscast on the team’s roster.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X @EricPincus.
