Why the Charlotte Hornets Signing an Expensive Center is Counter-Productive

Is there any other route the Charlotte Hornets can go down?

There are many other avenues to add more talent or at least some upside to the center position that would be much better in my opinion. There is one exception to the whole not splurging on a center thing: Christian Wood.

Wood, although still likely expensive, should be cheaper than all of the aforementioned options, and would bring a talented young player that helps both now as well as in the future. Wood brings a great blend of youth, athleticism, adequate three-point shooting, defense, and decent rebounding that the Hornets could really use.

Funnily enough, Wood was once with the Hornets, but rarely saw the court in the one season he was in the Queen City. The draft could be another option as both Onyeka Okongwu and James Wiseman could be available around the Hornets range, I think that Okongwu would be a better pick, but either pick could potentially help the Hornets.

Other center options that could be available later on include Udoka Azubuike, Vernon Carey Jr., and Daniel Oturu, among others. As far as other free-agent center options that could be cheaper, Harry Giles and Jakob Poeltl are both names that the Hornets could pursue.

Giles would be a mostly upside signing, but his blend of scoring, rebounding, and passing could be of good use to the Hornets squad. Jakob Poeltl is restricted, and I doubt the Spurs want to let him walk, but a solid offer could force them to let him walk and the Hornets should at least consider extending an offer sheet to the Austrian.

The Charlotte Hornets would be banking on him being a late bloomer as he has been solid but not awesome for San Antonio yet, but sharing a frontcourt with LaMarcus Aldridge could have hampered his development so far.

Poeltl’s passing, shot-blocking, and he has upside to become a double-double machine with decent scoring and very good rebounding, which could really fit with what the Hornets are trying to do in Buzz City, so potentially taking a flyer on Poeltl could be well worth it.

The team could definitely address the center position this offseason, but a final solution at the 5 is not necessary, which should make the younger and cheaper options much more attractive. There is plenty of time left for the Charlotte Hornets to make a decision about the need in the middle, but it’s certainly a need that bears addressing.