Charlotte’s decision to trade LaMelo Ball shocked many around the league, especially after the Hornets played their best basketball in years last season.
From January 1st to the end of the regular season, Charlotte had a 33-16 record while ranking first in the league in offense and fifth in defense.
The Hornets won 44 games, their highest win total in a decade, leaving many fans wondering why the team would move on from Ball instead of building around him.
In an interview with ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk, Hornets president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson explained why the organization felt now was the right time to make such a big move.
“These decisions are challenging at times, but when you look at the entire season and everything we’re in, it’s important to take an honest look at where you are as a team,” Peterson explained. “That’s what I have to do at the end of the season. It feels like the goal is never to compete for a play-in spot. The goal is not to get to the play-in spots or even to the playoffs in a year.
“I’ve said it many times since I’ve come to Charlotte: The goal is to get to the playoffs and be there for a long time. And eventually compete for a championship. When you can get a guy like Naz Reid, get him. Certainly the draft capital and flexibility feels like being able to achieve multiple goals in one deal.”
Charlotte received a handsome return in the deal, receiving Naz Reed, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and three second-round picks.
As Yangmisuk pointed out, Peterson doesn’t judge a team’s performance solely on how it performs at the end of the season.
Charlotte needed overtime to beat Miami in the play-in round before being easily eliminated by an Orlando team missing key players.
Rather than seeing a strong performance as evidence that the Hornets were coming, the front office saw an opportunity to reshape the roster when Ball’s value was at its highest.
The Hornets are now expected to build around Brandon Miller, Con Knuppel and Reed, with Coby White taking over point guard duties.
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