The Charlotte Hornets shouldn’t trade for DeMar DeRozan
By Noah Purser
Amidst rumors that the Toronto Raptors are looking to trade for a lottery pick, the Charlotte Hornets should not trade the 11th pick for DeMar DeRozan.
Trade talks and rumors, some involving the Charlotte Hornets, are ramping up in anticipation of the NBA Draft on June 21st. After struggling to beat LeBron James in the playoffs once again, the Raptors are undergoing a slight retool. However, as the draft approaches, front-offices are falling in love with certain prospects, as is the case in Toronto.
Per Marc Stein’s report, Toronto has their sights set on the combo guard out of Kentucky, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Expanding upon his reported “draft scuttle”, Stein reported that “no one on Toronto’s roster is off-limits”.
Though all-stars like Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan will be on the table, the Hornets should stay away from talks with Toronto. DeMar DeRozan, the likely candidate for a trade with Charlotte, is currently on a three-year, $83 million contract. Thus, a trade package from Charlotte would almost certainly include Nicolas Batum and, of course, the 11th pick.
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Though ridding themselves of the atrocious contract attached to Nic Batum would certainly be a plus in many fans’ eyes, taking on an $83 million contract over the next three years isn’t exactly ideal either. If the Hornets were to deal the 11th pick in search of a proven player, it should be in exchange for a player that will put the team in a ‘contender’ status.
While adding DeRozan might win the Queen City eight or nine additional games in the regular season, questions would still surround their ability to compete in the playoffs.
DeMar DeRozan averaged 23 points, 5.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds for the Toronto squad last year. He has never been an above-average defender, a 110 Defensive Rating per 100 possessions on his career. That said, pairing DeRozan next to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist would give many opposing wings trouble; however, the Hornets’ already lackluster spacing on offense would be further diminished.
There is no doubting the talent that DeMar DeRozan would bring to Charlotte. A superb player when isolated on the wing, his fit on the revamped Hornets squad would also be in question. James Borrego will bring in a motion-heavy offensive system, and implementing DeRozan post-ups into that offense wouldn’t make much sense.
The thought of acquiring another star player to pair next to Kemba will be extremely tantalizing for the Charlotte faithful. However, selecting a possible building block for the franchise at 11 should take precedent.
Players like Wendell Carter Jr., Lonnie Walker IV, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Kevin Knox all have abnormally high ceilings for a selection late in the lottery. Hitting on this pick will only improve the outlook on a possibly Kemba-less team.
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Ultimately, acquiring DeRozan from Toronto would be a short-sighted move for the franchise. While certainly improving their chances at a title run, the Hornets would likely still fall short of the ever elusive title. Building through the draft is the way to go; let’s hope Mitch Kupchak (and MJ) make the right selection come Thursday.