In an ideal world, every NBA team would operate without expenses. We’re not talking about a world without a salary cap. Realistically, we’re talking about a world without money.

Pardon the John Lennon vibes. We won’t pursue that line of thought any further. Suffice it to say, NBA teams can’t keep every talented player they acquire. At a certain point, they have to start crunching numbers.

The Charlotte Hornets appear to have reached that point. They’re likely to pony up for Miles Bridges in Restricted Free Agency, and they’re certain to offer LaMelo Ball a max rookie extension in 2023-24. Meanwhile, a handful of expensive veterans populate this roster.

The most expensive of which is Gordon Hayward. Finding a taker for the $30 million he’s owed in each of the next two seasons should be an imperative for the Hornets this summer.

LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: This Hornets-Lakers Trade Sends Gordon Hayward To Los Angeles

Luckily, Hayward is still a productive player: they should be able to find someone who’s interested.

Here are three trades that do exactly that.