The Charlotte Hornets have little to offer other teams in terms of trade value, but it appears that one of their veterans has drawn interest from a championship contender.

According to insider Marc Stein, the Denver Nuggets continue to be mentioned as a trade target (subscription required) for Vasilije Micic, the Serbian point guard who reportedly has a close relationship with Nikola Jokic.

It’s unclear if the Hornets want to get rid of the 30-year-old playmaker, but if Denver is willing to part with some of its assets to complete the deal, Charlotte should definitely benefit.

Of course, the Hornets’ front office might be hesitant to give up on Micic just like that, as he can serve as a backup in case the LaMelo Ball problem resurfaces sometime in the next few months.

Still, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the two-time EuroLeague champion on a new team later this season, especially because he may not get as much playing time behind Ball and likely second point guard Tre Mann. The franchise may also want to give young players Nick Smith Jr. and KJ Simpson some playing time at the position.

So if the Nuggets are indeed courting the Serb in order to give Jokic one of his potentially preferred teammates, Charlotte should try to steal their hand by demanding a rotation player in exchange.

With Micic’s salary set at $7.7 million for the 2024-25 season and the Nuggets already close to the second luxury tax threshold, it won’t be in their best interest to take on his contract without trading away a player who earns more.

The roster player who fits that criteria is Zeke Nnaji, Denver’s first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft who is set to take home $8.9 million next season. The University of Arizona product could prove to be a huge asset for Charlotte, as he could be used as either a power forward or a center. His numbers so far in his young career aren’t impressive at first glance, but he seems to be brimming with potential.

If Denver plays hard, the good news is that the Hornets can stay patient and just hold on to Micic instead. Considering how they ripped off the Oklahoma City Thunder last season in the Gordon Hayward trade that netted them Micic, Mann, Davis Bertans and a couple of second-round picks, they should try again to get the most value out of one of their trade assets.