The Charlotte Hornets Just Shocked the NBA with a Blockbuster Trade

Morris Johnson - Queen City Sportsnet October 1st, 2016

Just days after trading Nicolas Batum for Cole Aldrich, the Charlotte Hornets have made another franchise-altering move—and this time, they’ve gone all-in on the future.

Thanks to our friends at WFNZ, in a deal that sent shockwaves through the league, the Hornets traded:

• Kemba Walker

• Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

• 2017 first-round pick

• 2018 first-round pick

• 2020 first-round pick

• Nicolas Batum’s $13.37M trade exception

…to the Philadelphia 76ers for No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons and Jerami Grant.

Charlotte’s Gamble

Hornets GM Rich Cho, under fire after the controversial Batum trade, has bet the franchise’s future on Simmons.

“We believe Ben Simmons is a once-in-a-generation player,” Cho said in a press conference. “He has the ability to be a superstar, and we are committed to building a championship team around him.”

Simmons, the 6’10” Australian phenom, was hailed as the next great point forward coming out of LSU. His passing, size, and court vision have drawn comparisons to LeBron James. While his lack of a jump shot has raised concerns, his talent is undeniable.

Charlotte also receives Jerami Grant, a young, athletic forward with defensive versatility.

But the move came at a massive cost—including franchise cornerstone Kemba Walker.

Why the Sixers Did It

Philadelphia, still in “The Process,” made a stunning pivot. With Joel Embiid’s debut on the horizon, the Sixers’ front office—led by Bryan Colangelo—opted for proven talent over patience.

“We feel Kemba is the perfect complement to Joel Embiid,” Colangelo said. “He’s an All-Star-caliber point guard who can score at all three levels, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist brings elite perimeter defense.”

The Sixers now have a core of Walker, Embiid, and three additional first-round picks, setting themselves up to compete sooner rather than later.

Immediate Reactions

Hornets fans are stunned.

Trading Kemba—the heart and soul of the franchise—is a tough pill to swallow. Walker had just led Charlotte to a 48-win season and a near-upset of Miami in the playoffs. Now, the team is betting everything on a rookie who hasn’t played an NBA game yet.

The national media is divided:

• Some analysts praise Charlotte’s willingness to take a bold risk on a potential superstar.

• Others question whether they’ve mortgaged their future for a player with serious question marks.

Meanwhile, Sixers fans are celebrating. Kemba is an immediate upgrade, and the addition of multiple draft picks puts Philly in a position to make more moves.

But as training camp approaches, questions remain.

Can Simmons live up to the hype?

Can Kemba and Embiid make the Sixers a playoff team?

Did Charlotte just make a genius move—or a historic mistake?

For now, all the league can do is watch and wait.