Hornets-Pistons Trade Proposal Ships Former Top Pick to Detroit

The Charlotte Hornets are a hotbed for talent ahead of the NBA trade deadline, with numerous significant pieces potentially available.

LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Collin Sexton are all viewed as possible trade candidates, but realistically speaking, Sexton is probably the most attainable of the trio.

Sexton is in the final year of his contract and is the easiest player to slot into a contending team's rotation, so interest in the 26-year-old should see an uptick between now and Feb. 5.

Jethro Swain of The Lead has proposed a trade in which the Hornets would send Sexton and a second-round draft pick to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Jaden Ivey, Marcus Sasser and a first-rounder.

This would be a very nice return for Charlotte, and Swain explained why Ivey could be a really nice get for the Hornets.

"As previously discussed, Ivey is a downgrade from Sexton; however, he is younger and likely has more untapped potential," Swain wrote. "After dealing with a bevy of injuries in his first four years with Detroit, a change of scenery could benefit his development."

Ivey is a former No. 5 overall pick who had a couple of very strong campaigns to begin his career in 2022-23 and 2023-24, but he played in just 30 games last season and has fallen out of favor in Detroit this year.

There is no question that the 23-year-old is very talented, and if Charlotte can land Ivey — plus a couple of other pieces — for an expiring contract in Sexton, it's a deal the club should absolutely make.

While Sexton has played well for the Hornets this season, it's hard to imagine him sticking around long term. He has started the vast majority of his career, so one would think the University of Alabama product would want a better opportunity elsewhere.

Sexton was originally selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the eighth overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft and spent the first four years of his career with the Cavaliers. He then signed with Utah Jazz and played there for three seasons before being dealt to Charlotte over the summer.

It would honestly be surprising if the Hornets didn't at least seriously entertain the idea of moving Sexton before the trade deadline.

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