Hornets' Kai Jones May Have Cost Himself $150K With Public Trade Request

Charlotte Hornets center Kai Jones publicly demanded a trade on social media Monday, the latest in a series of erratic posts that raised eyebrows throughout the offseason.

"I have officially requested to be traded from the Charlotte Hornets," Jones wrote on X, formerly Twitter, followed by the #GOATLIFE hashtag that Jones uses on many of his posts.

The Hornets declined comment when contacted by Newsweek.

Jones first drew attention in early September with an Instagram Live in his kitchen during which he said people thought he was going to get traded.

"I don't think so," Jones said, laughing. "I've never missed a day. I don't think I'm getting traded."

Jones took a moment to dance to the song playing in his kitchen.

"I think the Hornets are very high on me," he continued. "If I get that call, I will pack my bags. But I don't think that's going to happen any time soon."

How Much Could Jones Be Fined by the NBA?

In addition to raising eyebrows, Jones may have cost himself a significant amount of money. In an effort by the NBA to tamp down embarrassing public trade requests, the latest iteration of the league's collective bargaining agreement carries a clause prohibiting any player (or agent or "person acting with authority on behalf of a player") from publicly expressing a desire to be traded. Any player in violation of that rule could face a suspension and/or a fine of up to $150,000.

The Hornets picked Jones with the 19th selection in the 2021 draft, and he subsequently signed his rookie-scale contract, which is worth $13.4 million over four years. The franchise exercised its team option on Jones' contract for 2023-24 last October, which guarantees him $3 million this season.

However, the Hornets are keeping Jones away from the roster indefinitely while remaining in constant communication with him, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. The team is concerned about Jones, per reports.

Jones' timing in breaking the CBA's new rule might not be ideal for his bottom line.

The NBA issued a warning to Damian Lillard and the Miami Heat this offseason when the former Portland Trail Blazers star made it clear through his agent that he wanted to be dealt to South Beach. The league might not have a lot of patience for a player making an even more blatant infraction.

For Jones, a $150,000 fine would make up 5 percent of his total earnings in 2022-23 and about 2.5 percent of his career earnings to date.

Jones posted an original song on September 26 with the caption "ALBUMN OTW #GOATLIFE."

"I got infinity money," Jones rapped. "Infinity buckets/I'm causing a ruckus."

NBA Reacts to Jones' Posts

Jones' social media posts drew significant attention in part because he called out multiple players around the league, including teammates. At one point on Instagram, Jones said in response to another comment that he is more assertive with the ball than fellow Hornets center Nick Richards.

"I can read myself," Jones wrote.

Jones also responded to a comment about Hornets center Mark Williams.

"Show me a video of Mark pulling up going left and hitting it," Jones said. "Anywhere man in college some where show one."

For his part, Jones shot 1-for-4 in 2022-23 on pull-up jumpers, per the NBA's stats.

Jones may not have been entirely serious, however. Shortly afterward, he posted that he could beat LeBron James 1-on-1, and that he would "cook prime diesel in here," referring to Shaquille O'Neal.

"Kai, my brother you average 3 points?" one X user responded.

"Listen man that's in the past," Jones wrote. "This new version of me is MVP and DPOY in here over and over."

Update 10/11/23, 9:40 a.m. ET: This story was updated with a response from the Hornets.