Trade Scenario No. 3 – Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte Hornets Receive: F/C Julius Randle & G Frank Ntilikina

New York Knicks Receive: F Miles Bridges, G Devonte’ Graham, C Cody Zeller, BRK 2021 2nd Round Pick (via CHA)

The Charlotte Hornets are 6-8 to begin the year and have looked strong in certain areas. Gordon Hayward has been having an All-Star like season up to this point and is the clear leader of the team, but other young players like Terry Rozier and LaMelo Ball have really stepped up and made a difference for this team.

The two disappointments for the Hornets so far and likely the two factors coming between them and some wins to this point are third-year guard Devonte’ Graham and third-year forward Miles Bridges. Both guys are great young players and have a lot of potential, but they have both struggled early on in the season in their new roles.

Devonte’ Graham is no longer the Hornets’ facilitator on the court with LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward on the team and Miles Bridges has been utilized off-the-bench as the “sixth-man” for the Hornets this year. With Cody Zeller still out with a broken hand, the Hornets have struggled in their frontcourt with P.J. Washington being their only true contributor. 

Adding a versatile and young big man like Julius Randle to pair with Washington could be very beneficial for this Hornets team and ultimately be what they need to finally make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. 

For the Knicks, getting young talent and draft picks has been a goal for years now and with them gearing up to potentially make some big moves this offseason and acquire some star-level talent, getting two excellent complimentary players in Devonte Graham and Miles Bridges would be a fantastic move. 

Last year, Graham was one of the most improved players in the entire league and led the Hornets in scoring. Miles Bridges is a bigger wing who’s athleticism lets him take advantage of not just smaller defenders, but slower ones as well. His ability to get to the rim could be something that makes the Knicks a dangerous transition team.

The Knicks have not been a reliable three-point shooting team for years now and given their young, athletic talents on the roster, both Devonte’ Graham and Miles Bridges would fit right in. Cody Zeller’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, freeing up more cap space for the Knicks and both Graham and Bridges are still on their rookie deals. 

This would be an excellent move for the Knicks to make, especially given the offensive talents that both of these players they would be receiving have. Devonte’ Graham and Miles Bridges paired up with R.J. Barrett, Mitchell Robinson and rookie Obi Toppin could make for one of the best young cores in the entire NBA and make the Knicks a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference for years to come.