The Charlotte Hornets have made more than a few decisions that still sting, but one of the biggest regrets in franchise history may not be the one most fans immediately think of.
Yes, the Kobe Bryant draft-night deal remains a scar. Charlotte sent Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Vlade Divac, and Bryant went on to build a Hall of Fame run in Los Angeles, winning five NBA titles. His name still serves as a constant reminder of what the Hornets gave up all those years ago.
Still, NBA analyst Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report says that trade may not be the one that haunts Charlotte most. In his view, the 2018 decision to move Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could be even tougher to swallow.
The Hornets selected Gilgeous-Alexander with the 11th overall pick in 2018, then dealt him to the Los Angeles Clippers. Charlotte got forward Miles Bridges, who was taken 12th that year, along with two future second-round draft picks in the swap.
At the time, the logic was clear enough: the Hornets wanted a wing to pair with then star guard Kemba Walker, and Bridges fit that need. He did provide some bright moments and gave Charlotte a scoring threat on the wing.
But the bigger swing has gone the other way. Gilgeous-Alexander has become one of the league’s elite players, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a championship in the 2024-25 season. He has also won two MVP awards and made four All-Star teams, all before turning 28.
That’s why Buckley’s argument lands so hard. The Bryant trade still carries enormous weight, but Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise has turned that 2018 move into a painful what-if for Charlotte. Even so, Bryant’s legacy and winning mentality remain the kind of loss the Hornets never got back.
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Hornets Face A Bigger Problem Than Another Close Loss
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Moussa Diabat pointed to execution as the problem, and the timing makes the concern even sharper with Charlotte still waiting on injured contributors Coby White, Kon Knueppel and Grant Williams to come back. Those absences matter, and the hope inside the locker room is that the roster will look more complete soon, but the Hornets also know the current stretch is exposing how much sharper they need to be before that help arrives. [Read more 🡒]