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Charlotte Hornets: How likely is a Nicolas Batum-Rockets trade?

By Walker Harris

Charlotte Hornets Nicolas Batum (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Charlotte Hornets Nicolas Batum (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 12: Nicolas Batum #5 of the Charlotte Hornets looks to pass against Trevor Ariza #1 and Donatas Motiejunas #20 of the Houston Rockets during the game at the Time Warner Cable Arena on March 12, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 12: Nicolas Batum #5 of the Charlotte Hornets looks to pass against Trevor Ariza #1 and Donatas Motiejunas #20 of the Houston Rockets during the game at the Time Warner Cable Arena on March 12, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Houston Rockets are reportedly actively shopping for defenders, and  Charlotte Hornets forward Nicolas Batum fits their need. But is this trade likely to happen?

The stars have aligned. There is finally a potential suitor for Nicolas Batum and his atrocious contract. The Houston Rockets has taken two very large steps back with the departures of defensive stalwarts Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute, and need another wing defender to maintain their status as a contender.

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Batum more or less fits the bill, and a Batum-Ryan Anderson swap plus a draft asset is what the trade would likely look like. Batum has three years and $76.69 million remaining on his contract, and Anderson has two years and $41.68 million left on his.

Both are terrible contracts, but Anderson’s is $4.3 million cheaper than Batum’s for the 19-20 season. Anderson’s contract also expires in time for the 2020 off-season, in which a large number of solid players will enter free agency.

This trade, along with waiving Tony Parker‘s $5.25 million non-guarantee for 19-20, would give the Hornets nearly $38 million of a luxury tax buffer. That’s for sure enough to keep Kemba Walker and maybe even Jeremy Lamb, depending on how much money Kemba wants. Alternatively, Keeping Batum and Parker on the books for 19-20 would give Charlotte just $28 million to work with.

From a salary cap perspective, this trade is a no-brainer for Charlotte. But there are several barriers to this trade that I believe will prevent it from ultimately happening.

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