Kai Jones requests trade from Charlotte Hornets

Kai Jones — the Charlotte Hornets big man who has been away from the team during training camp for “personal reasons” — has requested a trade, he announced on social media Monday.

Jones self-made, public trade demand is a direct violation of the CBA and could lead to a suspension or a fine of up to $150,000.

It’s also next to impossible to see a team stepping up to make a deal considering Jones’ concerning offseason social media posts and the fact he has not established himself as an NBA rotation player (he is third on the Hornets depth chart). It is more likely the Hornets will not pick up Jones’ $4.7 million option for next season, waive him (he is owed $3 million this season), and make him a free agent. If Jones were a free agent, it is hard to imagine another team taking a chance and signing him at this time. Jones averaged 3.4 points and 2.7 rebounds averaging less than 10 minutes a game for the Hornets last season (he did show flashes of promise at Summer League this past July).

Jones made a series of bizarre social media posts this summer, some calling out teammates. One was a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) where Jones suggested he was a better player than Charlotte star LaMelo Ball or No. 2 pick Brandon Miller, and said he could beat LeBron James one-on-one. Jones then criticized teammate Mark Williams, the Hornets center who starts ahead of him.

All of this led all his teammates to unfollow him on social media.

Jones’ saga will continue. Let’s hope he is okay and, if he needs it, getting help.