Charlotte Hornets Round Table: Mid-season review and trade discussion

The biggest issue for the Hornets?

Caleb Baugher (Contributor): The biggest issue seems to be the defense. Opponents pick and roll on the Charlotte Hornets like no other and are very successful when creating space, popping floaters and finding open 3 point shooters. Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo look worn out every single night the center position must be addressed.

Austin Daisey (Contributor): The Hornets are really lacking in their interior play. They need to go after another big man *cough cough Andre Drummond*. If Charlotte could snag another big man at the deadline, look for them to make a real push for the playoffs. Bismack Biyombo and Willy Hernangomez are key assets, but the Hornets just need someone who will go out there and make a true difference in a close game. It’s hard to win games when you’re giving up offensive rebound after rebound. Bismack is averaging just 8.0 ppg and 5.9 rpg, with 19.5 minutes per game. They need a big man that they can have out there for an extended amount of time to really give them that much-needed push when the shooting is off.

Elijah Edwards (Contributor): Interior defense, for sure. This season, Charlotte is giving up a whopping 52 points in the paint per game. That’s the third-highest in the league. Their defense overall isn’t the best, but inside, it’s very bad even with Biyombo getting the starting spot at center. If they have any hope of actually making the playoffs, they’ll need to improve that, if possible.

Aaron Khor (Contributor): No legitimate starting center. Both Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo are certified back-up centers. They would probably be reasonably serviceable for some contenders. We need someone (probably via the draft) who can come in and be both a threat offensively and defensively. But the biggest must will be their ability to rebound the basketball.

Scott Overbey (Contributor): It’s defense. They’re bad, I mean really bad. They give up the third-most field goal attempts at the rim this season, a whopping 39%, and don’t force mid-range shots. Quite simply the perimeter defenders aren’t doing their job on that end of the floor.

Zachary Padmore (Site-Expert): I would say that Charlotte’s biggest problem over the past few seasons has been rim protection and defense in general. James Borrego has this team fighting hard defensively, but he simply doesn’t have the greatest personnel to work with at the moment. The Hornets can play small and fast, and they can put the ball in the basket, but they need to get some stops, too.

Giovanni Spillman (Site-Expert): I join my colleagues in stating that defense is the issue for the Hornets. The Hornets are one of the worst defensive teams in the league, as well as the worst rebounding team in the league. The offense is not the question, and solving these defensive issues would take this team to the next level.