The Charlotte Hornets have had numerous weaknesses over the past few seasons, including a lack of sufficient depth at the wing/forward positions.

In the 2024-25 season, this may not be as big of an issue as it was before, as the team has several rotation players who can fill those roles. Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges are expected to start, while Josh Green, Grant Williams, Cody Martin, Seth Curry, and probably Tidjane Salaun will play those positions.

If the Hornets did not trade a key player during the 2021 offseason, they would likely have another starting option at the small forward or power forward position.

In the summer of 2021, Charlotte released Caleb Martin to make room for the arrival of free agent Kelly Oubre Jr.

It seemed like the right move at the time. After all, the undrafted forward had averaged just 5.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game the previous season. Management didn’t care that Caleb Martin had proven he had what it takes to be a consistent starter after a productive stretch following the 2021 All-Star break.

Three years later, the Philadelphia 76ers’ new signing ranked ninth on Bleacher Report’s list of the best or most favorable contracts for the team, with a term of at least three years.

Caleb Martin signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the Sixers this offseason, turning down a reported $65 million offer from his former team, the Miami Heat.

The Hornets definitely should have signed him as a free agent and could have afforded to bring him back based on his current contract. After the North Carolina native broke through in Miami over the past three seasons, he likely wanted to secure a ring.

He nearly tasted such success when the Heat booked a trip to the 2023 Finals against the Denver Nuggets. And he wasn’t just a spectator, as he put in several standout performances in this year’s playoffs, including the showpiece performance against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, averaging 19.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 3-pointers per game on 60.2% shooting from the field and 48.9% from beyond the three-point line.

Apparently, Charlotte gave up on him too soon. It also didn’t help that Oubre Jr. only played two seasons with the franchise before heading to Philadelphia, where he is now teammates with Caleb Martin.

As a consolation for the Hornets, they have another Martin in Cody. However, the defensive-minded swingman must prove that Charlotte did not give up the right twin in 2021.