Kai Jones Trade Request Leaves Fans in Shambles: $150,000 Fine Looming

Charlotte Hornets center Kai Jones has requested a trade, causing anger and disappointment among fans, as the team struggles to come to terms with other players.

The Charlotte Hornets are currently facing a new challenge as their center, Kai Jones, has expressed his desire for a trade in the hopes of finding a fresh start. To address this issue, the Hornets have decided to keep him away from the team indefinitely during training camp and the preseason due to "personal reasons."

Just recently, Jones took to Twitter to make his trade request public, causing a stir among Hornets fans. This situation arises after the team's front office struggled to reach an agreement with P.J. Washington on a new contract during the offseason.

However, it's important to note that Jones could potentially face a fine of $150,000 as per the rules outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). This reminder was brought to his attention by underground hip-hop artist Ramaj Eroc, who replied to his post.

In the 2021 NBA draft, Jones was initially selected 19th overall by the New York Knicks but was immediately traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for their 2022 first-round pick. He subsequently signed a rookie scale contract worth $13.42 million over four years. Additionally, the team exercised their option for the 2023-24 season, which amounts to $3.05 million.

Standing at 6-foot-11, Jones played a total of 67 games in his NBA career. During his time at the University of Texas, he participated in 53 games and maintained an average of 6.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

Despite his potential, Jones has yet to start a game for the Hornets, averaging only 9.1 minutes per game. In terms of statistics, he has recorded an average of 2.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game. Notably, he has shown proficiency with a field goal percentage of 62.7% inside the arc and a free-throw percentage of 73.1%.

It's worth mentioning that the Hornets currently hold the unfortunate record for the longest active playoff drought. Last season, they finished 14th in the Eastern Conference with a disappointing 27-55 record, marking their seventh consecutive year of missing the playoffs. In contrast, the Sacramento Kings managed to break their 16-season playoff drought by finishing third in the Western Conference last season.

Overall, the Charlotte Hornets are now grappling with the trade request from Kai Jones, adding to the challenges they face in improving their performance and ending their playoff drought.

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