Buy, Sell, or Hold (Part I): Judging Each Hornets Guard Roster Spot for 2023-24

Over the next few weeks, I'll be doing a deep dive into the Charlotte Hornets' roster and examining what the organization should do with each player. Should they build with them, look for better options, or just cut ties? The first of our three-part series, Buy, Sell, or Hold, will begin with the guards.

Buy: Invest in these players. Some could potentially be lasting pieces on the roster.
Sell: Should cut ties with, whether it be through trade, cut, or just letting them walk in free agency.
Hold: A wait-and-see situation.

Note: Kelly Oubre Jr. has played both the two and three but we'll lump him in with the wings for this series.

LaMelo Ball: Buy

Duh. This guy is the face of the franchise and if the Hornets have any hope of turning into a true contender in the Eastern Conference, they have to lock up Ball long-term. The sooner, the better.

Dennis Smith Jr.: Hold

Dennis Smith Jr. played well this past season and probably better than most expected. He resurrected his career and proved that he is more than deserving of being a backup guard in this league. Whether it's in Charlotte or not is to be determined. Much of that will depend on what the Hornets plan to do in the draft and in free agency (if anything).

Theo Maledon: Sell

Maledon played well at times but struggled with consistency. He's never going to be someone who can average 8-10 off the bench and he doesn't add a ton of value defensively. There are better options out there for the Hornets, some of which are internal.

Terry Rozier: Buy (sort of)

I know the Hornets probably overpaid for Terry Rozier but it's not like it's the worst deal in NBA history by any means. Rozier is still very productive and he's under contract through 2025-26. If you look to trade him, you're probably not getting what you want in return, so I would just hang on to him until his contract expires. As we saw last season, you need depth to remain competitive throughout an 82-game season.

James Bouknight: Hold

Missing the Summer League last year really impacted Bouk's ability to be a factor with the NBA team this season. I don't think the Hornets should give up hope on a former 1st-round pick after just two seasons but we're inching closer to that being a real possibility. This feels like a make-or-break year for him in Charlotte.

Bryce McGowens: Buy

Too easy. The youngster showed a lot of promise as a rookie and the Hornets have already committed to him for the 2023-24 season. Mark it down now, McGowens will be a big part of the Hornets' plans for years to come. This isn't your ordinary second-round pick.

Svi Mykhailiuk: Sell

I'm not going to lie, I think Svi may have been the biggest surprise this season. No one expected him to touch the floor in Charlotte but he impressed in some mop-up duty minutes and with several injuries, found himself in the starting lineup down the stretch. In 19 games with the Hornets, Mykhailiuk averaged 10.6 points per game and shot 40% from three. With the Knicks, he averaged 1.6 points over 13 games. That being said, he was just a roster filler for last season. Too many backcourt bodies and it doesn't feel like there's room for Svi.

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