On Saturday, Charlotte Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson got in front of the media to field questions after the LaMelo Ball trade became official. A lot of people in Charlotte have been unhappy with the move, and I don’t think there was much Peterson could say to change anyone’s mind, but we at least got some insight into the motives, even if a lot of it could be waved away as more platitudes about building a sustainable winner and yadda yadda yadda. Here’s a quick summary of what he said.

• Before taking questions, he thanked LaMelo Ball and Josh Green for their contributions to the team. He then went on to say that Naz Reid is a player he’s always admired and has targeted. And then he reasserted that every move is made with the goal of setting up for sustained success and ultimately competing for championships.
• The draft capital and trade exceptions are tools to help continue to build the team. He then circled back to Naz Reid is a great get as well with his positional size and ability.
• His job is to assess the team and do what’s best for the long term future of the team. He feels the draft capital and Naz Reid are better for the team.
• LaMelo’s contract apparently did not factor in the decision as ownership has voiced to Peterson that they are willing to spend whatever is necessary to build a winning organization.
• It’s important to take an honest look in the mirror at where the team is, even after a successful season. The goal isn’t to make play-in spots, it’s to compete for championships. He’s very excited about where the roster is right now.
• He reiterated that his job is to look at more than just the last half or two-thirds of last season and assess where the team is in its totality and how they stack up with the rest of the league.
• He empathizes with fans who love LaMelo and hate to see him go; he loves him as well, but he hopes the fans trust that he has the team’s best interest in mind.
• Peterson and ownership are in constant communication, so conversations about potential moves like this trade have long been discussed and prepared for.
• Talked about his admiration for Naz Reid, who went undrafted in part because of questions about his work ethic. Instead of letting that derail his career, he took ownership, got in the gym more and changed his body. He’s sacrificed to be a sixth man in Minnesota, and all of those traits are what the Hornets are looking for in their players.
• Spoke glowingly about the talent and attitude of Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel and how excited he is to have them starting on the wings. He wouldn’t compare Coby White to LaMelo, but is really excited about what he’ll bring as well.
• Miller has been attacking his rehab and has been in the gym constantly to get bigger and stronger while he does that. He said that he’s been in contact with Miller’s reps, presumably about an extension or long term contract.
• He never considers his job security when making decisions. He’s going to do what he thinks is best to make the team better.
• He was asked about the new lottery odds affecting his decision to trade LaMelo, implying that the target would be to land in that middle range with increased lottery odds, but he said that that didn’t impact the decision.
• He said the decision to trade LaMelo is probably the most difficult one he’s had to make as general manager of the Hornets

Like I said at the top, there was a lot of reiterating about everything being done with the future in mind. For those who disagree with this move or have a lot of built up frustration from the team’s lack of recent success, I’m sure that’s gotten tiresome to hear. We’ll have to wait and see what that truly looks like over time.

The other thing I thought was notable was how often Peterson circled back to Naz Reid as a player. There were a few questions, particularly early in the press conference, that centered on the draft assets and trade exception the Hornets got back, and Peterson went out of his way to almost say “Naz Reid is one of the biggest prizes in this trade.” Almost as if Naz Reid was the target and LaMelo was the cost of doing business.

Peterson talked about how excited he is for this roster. I know it looks a little less flashy without LaMelo Ball and to a lesser extent Miles Bridges, but I’m kinda with him on that. The entire starting lineup is like the easiest group of guys to root for. Coby White was a fan favorite in Chicago and quickly got that same favor here. Naz Reid was a fan favorite in Minnesota. Moussa Diabate, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller are all beloved here. And it’s because of the competitive nature those guys play with, and I do think it’s going to be a very fun group to root for.