Kofi Inkoom
The pursuit of Damian Lillard in the trade market has seen numerous twists, and the latest development involves the Charlotte Hornets emerging as a potential third party in the trade discussions.
Miami Heat is particularly interested in including Tyler Herro as part of the Damian Lillard trade talks, and initially, the Brooklyn Nets were the leading contenders to acquire Herro in exchange for draft picks and assets.
However, recent reports suggest that the Charlotte Hornets have entered the conversation as potential trade partners, as reported by NBATradeReport.
According to the report, the Charlotte Hornets are swiftly becoming a contender as the third party in a Damian Lillard to Miami trade. Their primary interest is in securing Tyler Herro to team up with LaMelo Ball.
#Sources — Charlotte Hornets quickly emerging as the potential third team in a Damian Lillard to Miami trade. Hornets have their eyes set on Tyler Herro to pair with LaMelo Ball. #NBA
— NBATradeReport (@NBATradeReport) September 18, 2023
Pairing Tyler Herro with LaMelo Ball in the backcourt would form an exciting, high-scoring duo, but it might come at the cost of exposing the Charlotte Hornets’ 22nd-ranked defense from last season.
Tyler Herro himself had an impressive season, averaging 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists for the Miami Heat.
Furthermore, the Hornets chose forward Brandon Miller over Scoot Henderson in the draft, so pursuing a guard like Herro might not align with their previous decision.
Nevertheless, if Charlotte expresses interest, the Miami Heat should explore discussions with them. The window to acquire Lillard is narrowing as the regular season approaches.