Buzz City Beat: Potential Trade for Okafor, Charlotte Hornets Most Disappointing Team?
Welcome to Buzz City Beat, a daily roundup of the latest and greatest news and stories from around the web about the Charlotte Hornets.
The Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team to advance to the second round of the playoffs this postseason after knocking off the Indiana Pacers. In this edition of Buzz City Beat, we look at the Charlotte Hornets being the most disappointing team in the Eastern Conference, a potential trade for Jahlil Okafor and the team is making upgrades to their box office and team shop.
Were the Hornets the Most Disappointing Team in the East? (FanSided.com)
"This brings us back to our main point: Was Charlotte the biggest disappointment in the Eastern Conference this past regular season? It looks to be so. Until something changes, it would be foolish to really say the buzz is back at the hive. It’s hard to build a winning culture when the colony continues to collapse on itself at least every other year. The truth stings."
It is no secret that Charlotte underachieved. They struggled and were one of the most disappointing teams in the entire league. As for the Eastern Conference, the Hornets were the clearly the biggest losers when you look at what was expected of them before the season began.
They haven’t enjoyed consistent success for some time as they have been in and out of the playoffs for the last four years. Until they can make the postseason consistently, Charlotte will continue to be known for mediocrity. They are essentially the poster child for the middle of the pack in the NBA. That needs to change and this franchise needs a winning culture and mentality.
Potential Trade for Jahlil Okafor (iSportsWeb.com)
"The Hornets acquired Miles Plumlee at the trade deadline, but it has not panned out. Charlotte missed Al Jefferson‘s production and Okafor is the same type of player. He can easily start for the Hornets or even come off the bench to provide a lot of offense."
Charlotte could possibly be a landing spot for Okafor if the Philadelphia 76ers do in fact decide to trade him this summer or during the regular season next year. Frank Kaminsky and Treveon Graham for Jahlil would work according to ESPN’s Trade Machine. It may be a lot to give up for the underachieving big man but he is still young with potential.
Okafor’s time with the Sixers seems to be limited after only two seasons with the team. He was drafted with the third overall pick in 2015 but he hasn’t quite panned out the way Phidlaphia was hoping for. It would be a risky trade for the Hornets because Jahlil lacks work ethic and seems uninterested at times during games.
Team Makes Upgrades to Box Office and Fan Shop (CharlotteObserver.com)
"The project is intended to increase the visibility and prominence of the fan shop, improve traffic flow in the store and alleviate the congestion of fans picking up tickets before they enter the Spectrum Center."
The Hornets keep making major improvements to the Spectrum Center and it is quickly becoming one of the best arenas in the entire league. After adding their massive scoreboard last offseason, the team continues to make fans experience at games more enjoyable with these upgrades. It might not seem like a big deal but creating a fan-friendly environment can go a long way.