THE Charlotte Hornets The Cardinals received several assets in the trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder that sent Gordon Hayward out the door. It was a trade Charlotte won hands down, even if none of the acquired pieces become more than solid role players. Hayward fell into a very limited role with the Thunder and this summer, he officially retired from the game.
The Hornets received Tre Mann, Davis Bertans, Vasilije Micic and two second-round picks in exchange for a player who ultimately decided to retire a few months after the trade. The biggest piece of this trade is undoubtedly former first-round pick Tre Mann. In 28 games with the Hornets, he averaged 11.9 points, 5.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range.
According to Grant Hughes of Bleacher ReportMann is the Hornets’ biggest X-factor heading into the 2024-25 season.
“Late-season samples can be deceiving, and it wasn’t just the Oklahoma City Thunder’s depth that limited Mann’s opportunities on his previous team. But the combo guard looked like a true rotation option after arriving in Charlotte.
“Of Mann’s 21 double-digit performances last season, 18 came with the Hornets. Crafty on the ball and showing off his playmaking skills for the first time in his career, Mann could be the kind of emerging talent a rebuilding club like the Hornets desperately needs. With good size (6’5”) and a high level of comfort with and without the ball, Mann figures to be a good fit alongside Charlotte’s top young players in LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
“There were even some indicators that Mann, who isn’t known as a defender, could also help on the other end of the floor. While small and inexperienced, the 2021 first-round pick flashed an active, disruptive streak in Charlotte last year, ranking in the 91st percentile at his position in steal rate. If he replicates or builds on that production, Mann would give the Hornets an intriguing third guard with the potential to be more than that.”
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