The Charlotte Hornets have dealt with many issues with their paint defense as of late, but one player could really help the team in this area.
As of now, the Charlotte Hornets are sitting with a 6-11 overall record. This record may not reflect the team’s offensive success, but fans know that the team has struggled on defense a lot as of late.
In recent games, the Hornets have not had a lot of luck with guarding the paint. The team is currently ranked at #30 in points allowed in the paint; this makes them the worst paint defending team in the league.
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A lot of the points being scored in the paint have to do with two things: lack of communication, and poor interior defenders. The best interior defender on the team is Bismack Biyombo, who averages 0.7 blocks per game, but he comes off the bench.
To me, the team seems like it will actually be rebuilding this year with the lack of success. Charlotte is seeking younger players, and a great target before the trade deadline is the Orlando Magic’s center, Mohamad Bamba.
Mo Bamba is in his sophomore year, and he’s not having the season he hoped for, A lot of his poor play this season has to do with his lack of playing time; he’s only playing 14.1 minutes per game. With this amount of playtime, Bamba is managing to average 4.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.
Bamba is freakishly athletic, and he would provide a lot of help on defense for the Hornets. He has a 7’10 wingspan, which helps him in being an efficient shot-blocker. The current starting center for the Hornets, Cody Zeller, only has a 6’11 wingspan.
Bamba has a lot of raw offensive talent, and he can even stroke the ball from deep. I think coach James Borrego would enjoy coaching someone who plays as intense as Bamba.
Trading for Bamba makes sense, and the Hornets wouldn’t have to trade an arm and a leg, as the Magic seem pretty fixed on keeping Nikola Vučević as their starting center. The Hornets have the depth to make a trade for Bamba.
If Charlotte is set to build around young players, then they should target Bamba. Coach Borrego did not get the defensive players that he wanted this offseason, but the team could give him one by trading for Bamba.
Bamba is currently under contract with a team-option until after the 2021-22 season. He’s a cheap option to go after, and the Hornets have veterans that can help this playoff-seeking Magic team.
The Hornets have players that would seem very familiar to Magic head coach Steve Clifford. With his coaching roots in Charlotte, I would be surprised if he’s not interested in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Willy Hernangomez.
The NBA’s trade deadline is Feb. 7, 2020 at 12:30 AM, and the Hornets have under three months to plan a trade. There is a lot of young players in the league who are seeking a chance, and the Hornets have bench depth and contracts that they can unload.