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Charlotte Hornets

2025-26
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Which players deserved investigation for the Charlotte Hornets’ problems in 2025-26?

Feb 5, 2026

Feb 5, 2026 — Jeff Peterson

The decision this board surrounds ultimately brought in Malaki Branham. Later outcomes never rewrite the board.

CHO on 2026-02-05: the listed basketball needs were shooting, passing, event creation. 2 player(s) were publicly on the market, but none had a source linking this team to them. 2 open-market candidate(s) matched at least one listed need. Market access, basketball fit, price, salary route, and legality remain separate.

Public market context only; no team linklisted needs: shooting · passing · event creation3 candidates — ordered by team link, then need match, then evidence. No target score.
Ja Morantcap charge $39.4M
Market route
Publicly on the market, but no source linked this team
Need addressed
Addresses passing
Observed functions
passing · creation · rim pressure
Strength overlap
Addresses a need without overlapping an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
Public offer-shape evidence available
Contract & salary
Minimum outgoing-salary screen available
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
Why is he here?

Ja Morant: Ja Morant was on the public trade market, but no source linked CHO to him. His prior basketball profile addressed one listed need: passing. The minimum outgoing-salary screen was available for a $39,446,090 incoming charge. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.

Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA rules)
Incoming salary: $39.4MTeam position proxy: Over cap below or at tax proxyCap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $39.2MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $39.2MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $30.8M

era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality

prior-season impact context: 1.8 per 100 (O 0.7 / D 1.1) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.

Chris Bouchercap charge $3.29M
Market route
Publicly on the market, but no source linked this team
Need addressed
Addresses shooting
Observed functions
interior finishing · rim pressure · shooting
Strength overlap
Addresses a need without overlapping an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
Public offer-shape evidence available
Contract & salary
Minimum outgoing-salary screen available
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
Why is he here?

Chris Boucher: Chris Boucher was on the public trade market, but no source linked CHO to him. His prior basketball profile addressed one listed need: shooting. The minimum outgoing-salary screen was available for a $3,287,409 incoming charge. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.

Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA rules)
Incoming salary: $3.29MTeam position proxy: Over cap below or at tax proxyCap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $3.04MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $3.04MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $1.52M

era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality

prior-season impact context: 1.2 per 100 (O 0.9 / D 0.3) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.

Jonathan Kumingacap charge $22.5M
Market route
Linked only to another team
Need addressed
Does not address a listed top need
Observed functions
rim pressure · interior finishing · creation
Strength overlap
No major overlap with an identified team strength
Availability history
Established pre-decision availability report history
Acquisition price
Withheld No public price evidence before the decision
Contract & salary
Minimum outgoing-salary screen available
Exact legality
Withheld A salary screen is not a full transaction-legality determination.
Why is he here?

Jonathan Kuminga: sources linked Jonathan Kuminga to another team, not CHO. His strongest observed functions did not match the listed top needs. The minimum outgoing-salary screen was available for a $22,500,000 incoming charge. Exact transaction legality remains withheld without a complete package and exception ledger.

Minimum-outgoing salary screen (2023 CBA rules)
Incoming salary: $22.5MTeam position proxy: Over cap below or at tax proxyCap-room lane (+$250K): minimum outgoing $22.3MStandard lane (100% + allowance): minimum outgoing $22.3MExpanded lane (200% / scaled buffer / 125%): minimum outgoing $13.8M

era-correct salary lane screen only; exact apron team salary, post-trade salary, aggregation, exception inventory, guarantees, bonuses and full package remain required for legality

prior-season impact context: 0.1 per 100 (O -0.3 / D 0.3) — Prior impact context is separate from team fit, price, and transaction value.

Historical decision board. A public-market player is not presented as a team target without a named team link. Minimum outgoing salary is not exact legality. Missing asking price is not a zero price. Later outcomes do not alter the decision-date board.