Why The Charlotte Hornets Do The Deal

Having LaMelo Ball is nice. Imagine having LaMelo Ball and Victor Wembanyama. 

That’s the concept behind this deal for the Hornets. They’d be tanking the 2022-23 season ahead of a historic draft. Of course, if Wembanyama was the only intriguing player in this class, that would be a very risky decision. 

Fortunately, he isn’t. Any number of prospects in this class could fit alongside Ball. They could draft his new backcourt mate in Nick Smith, another quality big man in Derrick Lively or Kel’El Ware, or a wing such as Cam Whitmore or Dariq Whitehead.

With this class, all you have to do is land in the lottery, and you’ll select a player with cornerstone potential. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: PJ Washington, Charlotte Hornets & Los Angeles Lakers Updates

 Of course, bottoming out for 2022-23 isn’t the only advantage for the Hornets here. They’re also acquiring two highly valuable assets in the Lakers’ first-round picks. All told, this deal may hurt their present, but it does a tremendous amount for their future. 

 What does it do for the Lakers?