The Charlotte Hornets have been linked to a trade idea that would bring in veteran center Myles Turner, a move aimed at giving their frontcourt a much-needed jolt.
Charlotte already looks set up to be one of the more entertaining teams in the NBA this season, even if nobody is rushing to call them a title threat. With Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel stepping into the spotlight, the Hornets’ offense is expected to have plenty of juice. Both are projected to make big leaps, which should only add to the team’s scoring punch.
The Hornets also added Naz Reid this offseason, giving the roster a real big man. Even so, the frontcourt still stands out as one of the thinner areas on the team, which opens the door for another move.
That’s where Turner comes in. The Milwaukee Bucks center has been floated in trade chatter as Milwaukee eyes a rebuild, and Charlotte could try to capitalize. The proposed framework would send Turner to the Hornets in exchange for Grant Williams and Ryan Kalkbrenner.
On the Hornets’ side, the appeal is obvious. Turner would give them another major piece alongside Miller and Knueppel, and he’d bring a frontcourt presence capable of protecting the rim while stretching the floor. In theory, he could help anchor that group from the middle.
There is a catch, though. The deal as outlined does not work under the NBA’s new financial restrictions, which means Charlotte would have to include one more contract. Liam McNeeley was mentioned as a possible extra piece to make the numbers fit.
Turner’s season in Milwaukee was not the version of him fans are used to seeing. He averaged 11.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game last year, a noticeable dip from his previous production. Even with that down year, he remains one of the league’s better two-way centers.
If he were to land in Charlotte, the fit could help revive his numbers in a faster, more open offense. The article also points to the possibility that he could get back closer to the level he showed with the Indiana Pacers.
The contract is the other major factor. Turner is set to make $26.5 million this year, followed by $27.8 million in 2027-28, with a player option for $29.1 million in 2028-29. Those are steep numbers, but the upside is clear: pairing Turner with Reid would give Charlotte a formidable defensive foundation and could raise the ceiling of a young team that already has some real offensive firepower.
In Other News...
Hornets Face A Big Brandon Miller Decision Before His Price Changes
Brandon Millers place in Charlottes future is suddenly one of the biggest questions hanging over the franchise. With LaMelo Ball gone, Miller is expected to step into a much larger role, and the Hornets have every reason to treat the next stretch of his career as a referendum on what kind of centerpiece he can become.
The contract side of that equation may be trickier than it first appears. NBA insider Zach Lowe has raised doubts about Charlotte simply handing Miller a max extension, suggesting the sides could end up negotiating toward a deal closer to Amen Thompsons range, while Miller continues rehabbing from left shoulder surgery and has not yet been cleared for basketball activities. For a team trying to map out its next core, the timing makes the decision even more delicate. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Add Another Young Guard With A Bigger Camp Question
The Hornets kept turning over the back end of their offseason roster by adding another young guard in Bez Mbeng, the undrafted Yale product who has already logged time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce and spent part of a season with the Utah Jazz on 10-day contracts before landing a rest-of-season deal. Charlotte made room for him after waiving Kobe Stewart, another sign that the team is still sorting through developmental options as camp approaches.
Mbeng looks like the kind of player the Hornets want in their pipeline, someone who can slot into the system and spend time with the Greensboro Swarm if everything lines up. The catch is in the paperwork and the path forward, because an Exhibit 10 setup would only be part of the equation and Greensboro would still need to secure his returning rights from Sioux Falls before that next step becomes official. [Read more 🡒]
Naz Reid Just Gave Hornets Fans Another Reason To Be Excited
Naz Reids move to Charlotte already looked like one of the more interesting parts of the LaMelo Ball trade, and the fit only gets more intriguing from there. After winning the 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year award with Minnesota, Reid is expected to step into the Hornets starting lineup next season, giving the roster a proven frontcourt piece who just finished averaging 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
Reid has also opened up about his reaction to the deal, which helps explain why this one landed with such a jolt. Hell be one of the more closely watched additions on the team next season, not just because of his production, but because Charlotte is paying real money for the chance to see whether his game translates cleanly into a bigger role after the move from Minnesota. [Read more 🡒]