The Charlotte Hornets don’t have much to offer other teams in terms of transfers. However, it appears that one of their veterans has attracted interest from a title contender.
According to insider Marc Stein, the Denver Nuggets continue to be mentioned as commercial target (subscription required) for Vasilije Micic, the Serbian point guard who is said to have a close relationship with Nikola Jokic.
It’s unclear whether the Hornets are looking to move on from the 30-year-old point guard. But if Denver is willing to part with some of its assets to make the deal, Charlotte should certainly benefit.
Of course, Hornets management might be hesitant to give up on Micic like that, as he can serve as insurance just in case LaMelo Ball Problem resurfaces in the coming months.
It would not be surprising to see the two-time Euroleague champion on a new team later this season, especially because he may not play much behind Ball and backup point guard Tre Mann. The franchise may also want to give playing time to youngsters Nick Smith Jr. and KJ Simpson at the position.
So if the Nuggets are indeed looking to convince the Serbian to give Jokic one of his favorite teammates, Charlotte should try to shake his hand by asking for a rotation player in exchange.
With Micic’s salary for the 2024-25 campaign set at $7.7 million and the Nuggets already close to the second luxury tax penalty, it won’t be in their best interest to acquire his contract without shipping off a player who earns more.
The player who fits that bill is Zeke Nnaji, Denver’s first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft who is set to make $8.9 million next season. The University of Arizona product could prove to be a great return for Charlotte, as he could slot in at either the power forward or center position. His numbers so far in his young career aren’t impressive at first glance, but he appears to be brimming with potential.
If Denver plays hard, the good news is the Hornets can stay patient and just keep Micic instead. Considering how they stripped the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Gordon Hayward trade last season that got them Micic, Mann, Davis Bertans and a couple of second-round picks, they should try again to get the most out of one of their trade assets.
