The Jaylen Brown trade takes the cake for the most shocking decision of this NBA offseason, but the LaMelo Ball trade does feel like a close second.
The Hornets were the feel-good season of this last NBA campaign who seemed to check every box when looking for teams on the rise. After a rash of injuries to start the year, Charlotte’s young core was finally able to play long stretches of games together and meshed perfectly as second-year coach Charles Lee’s vision became reality on both ends. The team won numerous games in the second half of the year against genuine contenders and made a wild push for the playoffs that fell just barely short.