The Charlotte Hornets have already made one significant move ahead of the trade deadline, bringing in Coby White to bolster their backcourt. That addition helped address a lingering need for more consistent guard play.
But with time still on the clock, new executive Jeff Peterson may not be done reshaping the roster. And the next name likely on the move?
Tre Mann.
Let’s rewind a bit. Before the White deal, Charlotte’s most tradable pieces were Collin Sexton and Mason Plumlee.
Both are now gone-Sexton to the Chicago Bulls, where he’ll join an already guard-heavy roster, and Plumlee to Oklahoma City, where he’s expected to be a buyout candidate. That leaves Mann as the Hornets’ most logical trade chip.
Unfortunately for Charlotte, Mann’s stock isn’t exactly soaring right now. He’s averaging just 7.5 points and 2.2 assists per game this season.
While his shooting has improved after a rough start, he’s been mostly relegated to garbage-time minutes for over a month. With White now in the fold and likely to take over Sexton's role in the rotation, Mann’s path to playing time in Charlotte has only gotten murkier.
But here’s where things get interesting.
Despite the down year, Mann isn’t without value. Just last season, after being traded to Charlotte mid-year, he started all 28 games he played and posted a solid stat line: 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
That version of Mann-confident, aggressive, and contributing on both ends-looked like a legitimate rotational piece. And let’s not forget, there was even some early Sixth Man of the Year buzz for him before a back injury shut him down during the 2024-25 campaign.
So, is there a team out there willing to take a chance on a 25-year-old scoring guard with upside?
One potential landing spot that’s been floated is the Orlando Magic. They’ve been sniffing around for backcourt help and could use a shot creator off the bench.
The fit makes sense-Orlando has a surplus of big men and could be open to a low-risk flyer on Mann. A potential swap involving Goga Bitadze has been suggested, and on paper, it’s a deal that could work for both sides.
Bitadze, a steady and efficient big, would give Charlotte a reliable third-string center-something that’s more of a luxury than a necessity, but helpful nonetheless.
Of course, the Hornets don’t have to move Mann. They could hang onto him and see if he can carve out a role again.
But with White now in place and young players like Sion James and G League standout Liam McNeeley continuing to develop, the minutes just might not be there. It’s a numbers game, and right now, Mann is on the outside looking in.
Bottom line: the Hornets have options, and Mann’s future in Charlotte is very much in flux. Whether it’s Orlando or another team in need of bench scoring, a change of scenery could be exactly what Mann needs to reignite the promise he showed not long ago.