Hornets Should Trade For All-Star to Pair With Brandon Miller

Entering the new 2026-27 NBA season, the Charlotte Hornets will have a very different look to them.

Star guard LaMelo Ball is gone following a blockbuster offseason trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Forward Brandon Miller is now being viewed as the face of the franchise, with the Hornets giving him the keys to the organization.

But around Miller, there are other good players who could make his life much easier. And while Charlotte isn't generally seen as a title contender, this team could very easily be a potential playoff team in the Eastern Conference.

However, if the Hornets wanted to upgrade the roster around Miller, they do have the pieces to make it happen. And one area that the team could look to improve on is helping to generate shot attempts, while also being able to create shots.

Without Ball, the Hornets may have some trouble in this category, and the team could look to change that fact. One name that could make sense is forward Brandon Ingram of the Los Angeles Clippers, who was just traded from the Toronto Raptors.

The Clippers had envisioned Ingram to help lead their next chapter forward, but everything has since changed for the organization. Los Angeles was stripped of five future first-round picks, and they are now desperate for draft capital.

The Hornets could offer at least one first for Ingram, giving the Clippers something to work with moving forward. The two teams could work out the salaries to make it work, with Ingram scheduled to make $40 million this season and then $41.9 million next year on a player option.

A combination of Grayson Allen and Grant Williams could get the job done between the two teams.

This trade could change a lot for the Hornets going forward. Charlotte would add a legitimate All-Star talent to pair with Miller, giving them a lethal wing duo.

Mixing both Ingram and Miller in with second-year player Kon Knueppel could make the Charlotte offense even more fun. But Ingram has the ability to not only create his own shot but also get others involved in the attack.

Ingram has averaged over five assets in four of his last five seasons, showing a unique ability for a forward. Last season, Ingram put up 21.5 points per game, while shooting 38.2 percent from beyond the three-point line.

While a trade of this magnitude could have risks, including from Ingram's injury history, the ceiling of the team would be much higher. Charlotte wants to be more competitive in the East, and adding Ingram would easily make that happen.