The Bugs’ Life: A Hornets column after the trade deadline

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The Charlotte Hornets added much-needed shooting by acquiring rookie guard Dalton Knecht from the Los Angeles Lakers. The Hornets also got Cam Reddish and a 2031 first round draft pick and a 2030 first round draft swap in the deal, which moved center Mark Williams to the Lakers.

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone.

The Hornets dragged their feet but made some moves right before the deadline and I am here to grade and critique them and the implications they have on the future. 

Just past midnight on Feb. 6 — day of the trade deadline — ESPN reporter Shams Charania broke news that the Hornets traded center Mark Williams to the Lakers for guard Dalton Knecht and forward Cam Reddish. The Hornets also received a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and 2030 pick swap as a part of the deal.

Grade: B-plus

I was a big proponent of the Hornets drafting Knecht in last year’s draft. Now, the Bugs have him as well as their original pick, Tidjane Salaün. This adds a player that can not only be a reliable spot-up shooter, but also create his own shot if need be. Knecht was averaging around 20 minutes, 9.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game with the Lakers.

Reddish has been a journeyman since entering the league in 2019 after a year at Duke. At one time there was speculation that Reddish could have the most upside of anyone in the Blue Devils’ 2019 freshman class that included forwards Zion Williamson (Pelicans) and R.J. Barrett (Raptors). This has not yet come to fruition.

In six years, Reddish has been on four different teams, now five counting the Hornets. He averages 8.5 points and 23 minutes per game, so… what does Reddish bring to the table?

Right now, he appears to be a body coming off the bench that will be serviceable in giving starters a breather. When forward Brandon Miller returns to the lineup next season, Reddish’s minutes will likely drop off.

The trade also gets rid of a center that to this point has not proven can stay on the floor for any length of time without getting injured. To be fair to Williams, when he was on the floor, he was very productive and a proven rim protector, but for what the Hornets were able to get in return, this trade checks out.

Just after lunch on the day of the deadline, Charania broke the news that the Hornets acquired center Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first round pick from the Phoenix Suns for guards Vasa Micic and Cody Martin.

Grade: A

This trade not only added draft capital, but it also addressed the need of a big man after Williams’ exit. Nurkic is a 7-footer who has played the majority of his 11-year career in Portland, but the last few seasons in Phoenix. He has a career average of 12 points and 9 rebounds per game. He has pick-and-pop ability with proven range at 32.2% from three-point range.

Losing Micic and Martin won’t cause many Bugs fans to shed tears. Micic was serviceable, primarily in a backup role to LaMelo Ball. There was a running joke that whenever Martin touched the ball, it was going to be shot. 

While Martin was useful at times on defense, his offense was lacking at just 7.8 points per game and below 70% from the free throw.

After the deadline, the Hornets signed guard Elfrid Payton to a 10-day contract. Payton’s last stint was with the New Orleans Pelicans, where he was averaging 6.7 points and 6.9 assists per game this season. He had a career-high 21 assists in November against Indiana.

Coach Charles Lee was complimentary of the players that left the organization but feels general manager Jeff Peterson did a great job with the deals made.

“I think Jeff and the front office did a great job of executing some deals around the trade deadline that are going to help our team I think in the short term and the long term,” Lee said. “Some tough phone calls to make, though. We’re grateful for the things Mark, Cody and Vasa were able to give to our organization and to our team. We’re excited about the new bodies that we’re going to get. I think Nurk, Cam, Dalton and Elfrid are going to help our team in a lot of different ways, so I’m looking forward to it. It was a crazy time, and now we’re looking forward to moving forward and just helping this team be as good as they possibly can be going into the break.”

Overall grade: A-minus

It is easy to be overly critical of a team that is 13-36, but the trades Peterson and the front office were able to hash out will be beneficial in the long run. The Hornets won’t be competing for a title, but they added future draft capital while addressing the need for shooters and another big.

Good job, Hornets.

Cameron Williams covers the Hornets for The Post.

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