Breaking down the Hornets' roster after busy NBA trade deadline

Williams has struggled to stay healthy in his career, and it was evident that Charlotte wanted to move on from him because of his injury concerns.

Knecht was selected 17th overall by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft. Once he plays for Charlotte, he will see a significant increase in playing time. 

Reddish has been hurt throughout the season, and it is unclear what his role will be with the Hornets.

Thursday, the Hornets traded away Cody Martin, Vasalije Micic and a 2026 second-round pick to the Suns in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first-round pick.

The acquisition of Nurkic filled a need at the center position after Charlotte shipped Williams to Los Angeles. The Hornets got a first-round pick in exchange for players the caliber of Martin and Micic, which feels like a steal.

Since the Nick Richards trade a few weeks ago, Charlotte has wholly revamped its roster over the last month. It will be almost entirely different when the Hornets play the Spurs on Friday night. Here's what the Charlotte's rotation could look like for the remainder of the season.

PG: LaMelo Ball (when healthy) KJ Simpson, Isaiah Wong

SG: Dalton Knecht, Nick Smith Jr, Seth Curry

SF: Josh Green, Josh Okogie

PF: Miles Bridges, Tidjane Saluan

C: Jusuf Nurkic, Moussa Diabate

A potential starting five for Charlotte on Friday could include just one player who has been on the team for multiple seasons: Bridges.

With a record of 12-36, Charlotte is already focused on next season and beyond. Health is always the primary concern, but if the Hornets can maintain a healthy roster for an entire season, the 2025-26 team could be fun to watch.