The Hornets' treasure trove of assets can be cashed in before next year's trade deadline in a move that puts them over the top. The bevy of first-round picks Jeff Peterson has acquired and retained can be used to make a home run-style swing to add to Charlotte's core of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and whomever they draft in the 2025 lottery.

Although Charlotte isn’t yet mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, NBA’s longest current playoff drought is approaching nine years.

The Phoenix Suns traded center Jusuf Nurkic to the Charlotte Hornets before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. The former Trail Blazers center was sent to Phoenix before the 2023-24 season in the trade that brought Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara to Portland.