The Charlotte Hornets may not have a headline-grabbing trade piece for the Philadelphia 76ers, but they do have two realistic names that fit very different needs.
That matters for a Sixers team that isn’t chasing stars here. The idea is to find role players who can fill specific holes, and Charlotte has options that could make sense depending on how Philadelphia’s roster shakes out over the 2026-2027 NBA season.
The clearest opening is in the frontcourt.
Philadelphia let Andre Drummond walk without a fight, then brought in Ariel Hukporti from the New York Knicks. To make that move happen, the Sixers moved Johni Broome in a trade. Right now, the center depth behind Joel Embiid is Adem Bona and Hukporti.
If that group doesn’t hold up, Ryan Kalkbrenner becomes a name worth watching.
The Hornets center is on a very manageable deal, set to make $2.4 million for the upcoming season. That kind of salary keeps the door open on a simple swap, especially if Charlotte has any interest in one of Hukporti or Bona. There’s even a chance the Hornets could prefer a different type of young piece, with Jabari Walker or Justin Edwards mentioned as other possible fits.
Kalkbrenner gives a team real size at 7'1". He built his reputation as a solid rim protector, averaging 1.5 blocks per game, and he pulled down 5.5 rebounds per game last season. He’s not the stretch-five type, but he did finish with 7.6 points per game while shooting 75.3% from the field.
Still, there’s a catch. Kalkbrenner is a second-year big man on a Charlotte team that just missed the playoffs, which means any interest from the Sixers would be driven more by projection than proof. It’s the kind of move a front office makes if it liked him coming out of Creighton and still believes in the upside.
The point guard route is a lot pricier.
The Sixers are fine in the backcourt for now. Behind Tyrese Maxey, they have rookie Labaron Philon Jr., who is listed as a point guard. Jaylen Brown and LeBron James can also handle playmaking duties, and so can VJ Edgecombe and Anfernee Simons.
But if Philadelphia decides Philon isn’t ready and wants a veteran guard to steady the second unit, Dennis Schroder is the obvious name from Charlotte.
Mike Gansey was part of the Cleveland front office that recently traded for Schroder, so that connection is worth keeping in mind. The problem is the cost.
Schroder is set to make $14.8 million next season, which means the Sixers would likely have to send out Anfernee Simons and include several young prospects just to match salary. A facilitator or two could also be required to get a deal across the finish line.
Schroder’s NBA journey has taken him through nearly half the league over 13 seasons, and that kind of track record makes him a familiar trade chip. He didn’t show much in Cleveland’s playoff run last year, playing 15.9 minutes per game and averaging 5.5 points on 38.1% shooting with 2.4 assists per game.
But his 2025 postseason with the Detroit Pistons is the version that should catch Philadelphia’s eye. Schroder shot 49.1% from the field and 47.6% from three, averaged 12.5 points per game, and added 3.7 assists while turning it over 1.2 times per game.
That route is harder to pull off than the Kalkbrenner option, and the need isn’t as urgent right now. Even so, Schroder remains the kind of veteran guard who tends to stay on the league’s radar as long as he’s still available.
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