Naz Reid would make the Blazers’ offense a lot more interesting. The tougher part is figuring out why Charlotte would bite.
That’s the heart of a hypothetical trade floated by Siddhant Gupta of Fadeaway World, who put forward a deal that would send Scoot Henderson, Yang Hansen and two second-round picks from Portland to Charlotte for Reid. It’s only an idea, not a reported negotiation, but it does raise the same basic question any trade proposal has to answer: does both sides get enough back?
Under the proposal, Portland would land Reid, while the Hornets would receive Henderson, Yang, a 2027 second-round pick via Memphis and a 2028 second-round pick via Houston.
From Portland’s side, the fit is obvious. Reid brings floor spacing, the ability to attack a closeout and another source of frontcourt scoring to pair with Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija. He would give the Blazers a different look than Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III, which matters for a team already showing success with a balanced offense.
Gupta points out that Reid is averaging 17.4 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 36.5% from three. That kind of production is exactly why the idea has some appeal for Portland.
Charlotte is where the deal starts to wobble. The Hornets would be giving up a proven contributor for two young players and a pair of second-rounders, which is a light return if the goal is to stay competitive right now.
Henderson would be looking for a chance to get back on track, while Yang would be more of a long-term bet. That kind of package could make sense if Charlotte is leaning hard into development, but it doesn’t read like a clear upgrade.
There’s also the timing of it all. Reid recently helped the Hornets beat the Cavs, and a rough start with an injury-depleted roster doesn’t automatically mean Charlotte should start shipping out productive players.
Portland would have to weigh its own side of the equation, too, since it would be giving up two young players for a more immediate boost. And before anyone treats this as a workable deal, the salary-matching rules and other transaction requirements would still need to be checked.
As a fit exercise, the idea has legs. Reid would give Portland more ways to score. The part that needs the most convincing is the Hornets’ end of the bargain.
In Other News...
Hornets' Slow Start Just Reopened The LaMelo Ball Trade Debate
Charlottes uneven start has already pushed the LaMelo Ball trade back into the conversation, and Bill Simmons used his podcast to frame the deal as something that still needs time to breathe. He and co-host Rob Mahoney looked at where the Hornets stand now, with Brandon Millers role part of the broader picture, and argued that the early read on the move is still far too incomplete to settle into a verdict.
The trade sent Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota in exchange for Naz Reid, multiple future draft picks and a trade exception, but the bigger question is how all of it looks once the season settles in. Charlottes 4-7 record has only sharpened the debate around whether the front office got enough back, and the unresolved piece around Reid keeps the discussion from feeling anywhere close to finished. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Miller Still Has Face Of The Hornets Pressure To Prove It
Brandon Miller arrived in Charlotte as the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and he has already shown why the Hornets were so eager to bet on his scoring. The next step is less about flashes and more about consistency, because Charlotte needs him to become a steadier presence on both ends while continuing to grow into a more complete player.
The Hornets have also been asking for more than shot-making, with Miller expected to sharpen his playmaking as the young roster keeps taking shape around him. Health has been part of the conversation, too, and that only adds to the pressure on a player the franchise wants to see on the floor and carrying more of the load as his role continues to expand. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Return To Phoenix With More At Stake Than Usual
Phoenixs injury report looks far cleaner than Charlottes heading into the next meeting, and that matters for a Hornets team trying to navigate a tricky stretch with bodies still coming and going. Mark Williams is the only Suns player listed out, while Jordan Goodwin has already made his return from injury and was a meaningful factor in the previous game, giving Phoenix a little more stability as the matchup approaches.
Charlotte, meanwhile, arrives with multiple players tagged out or probable, which only adds to the challenge of keeping pace on the road. The game also brings a little extra edge because Grayson Allen and Royce ONeale are set to see Phoenix for the first time since landing in Charlotte, a reminder that this one carries more than the usual regular-season feel for a Hornets group still sorting through its own health concerns. [Read more 🡒]