Charlotte Hornets: 5 teams that have big men to trade for

It’s no secret that the Charlotte Hornets need an upgrade at the center position. As a matter of fact, we here at Swarm and Sting can’t talk about the Hornets acquiring a player that isn’t a center without someone pointing out the obvious or unless it’s Lonzo Ball.

For the last few seasons, the Hornets have struggled defensively due, in large part, to the team’s deficiencies at the five position. This season, those problems have worsened and have started to affect the Hornet’s perimeter defense; several times this season Charlotte has allowed teams to tie or break their single-game record for three-point field goals made. The Utah Jazz set a new record with 26 three-point field goals made in their first meeting of the season against the Hornets on February 5 and then broke it again on February 22 with 28.

The Hornets need an impact player at the center position. Charlotte spent two second-round picks in the 2020 NBA Draft on Vernon Carey Jr. and Nick Richards to develop for the future, but if the Hornets want to continue to push towards the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season, they’ll need to add a veteran that can immediately defend the paint, protect the rim and rebound on both ends of the floor.

Here are five teams that the Hornets could target to acquire a center from ahead of the trade deadline on March 25.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The center that has been linked to the Hornets the most is Andre Drummond of the Cleveland Cavaliers. As a rebuilding team, the Cavaliers were already looking to unload the big contract of Kevin Love but could’ve been content with allowing Drummond’s $28.7 million contract to expire at the end of the season. That changed when the Cavaliers landed Jarrett Allen in the four-team trade early this season that landed James Harden with the Brooklyn Nets. Drummond is still with the team but not playing until the Cavaliers can facilitate a trade for him. Unless another team or two joins a trade that lands Drummond in Charlotte, the Hornets would have to match his salary with a number of players, potentially costing the team a few young assets.

If the Cavaliers can’t find a trade for Drummond, his contract will likely be bought out. Drummond would look to sign with a championship contender ahead of Charlotte.

Another veteran option the Hornets could consider is JaVale McGee. With an available roster spot and salary cap space, the Hornets could absorb McGee’s contract without giving up a player. However, you can’t trade something for nothing in the NBA, so more than likely than Hornets would give up a conditional second-round pick and/or a young prospect to land McGee.

Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons seem to be intent on being sellers during this trade deadline season. Already, the Pistons have traded Derrick Love back to New York and have recently bought out Blake Griffin (nobody was going to trade for his contract). There are even rumblings that the Pistons may be open to trading recently signed forward Jerami Grant who is a top contender of the NBA Most Improved Player Award.

The Hornets could call the Pistons to check on the availability of Mason Plumlee. The former Duke University standout is having his best season since 2016-17 (Sound familiar? Gordon Hayward.). Plumlee would be relatively cheap for a starting-caliber center. He is on the books this season for $8 million, $8.1 million in 2021-22, and $8.5 million in 2022-23).

Los Angeles Clippers

Ivica Zubac would be a great get for the Hornets if the Los Angeles Clippers are willing to deal. He’s a young center with the potential to be a breakout star. He’s on the books for $7 million this season and $7.5 in 2021-22 with a club option of $7.5 in 2022-23.

Acquiring Zubac would cost the Hornets, it would be interesting to see what sort of deal would be constructed between the two teams and possibly a third. The Clippers certainly would not be looking for a developing player, they would want an immediate impact player that could help them in this season’s title chase. Terry Rozier is a player the Clippers have coveted, you can expect that Los Angeles will try to acquire him in any deal with the Hornets.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Al Horford is available and can certainly contribute to a team. However, Horford’s contract is going to give pause to any team the picks up the phone to discuss his availability with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Horford is due a little over a million less than Drummond this season. The big difference is Drummond’s contract expires at the end of the season, Horford is on the books next season at 35 years old with another $27 million, and $26 million in 2022-23, partially-guaranteed at $14.5 million, at age 36.

Without another team’s involvement, the Hornets would need to give up too much to make a deal for Horford happen. Carrying his contract for the next two seasons would also be a questionable move.

Sacramento Kings

The Hornets should pick up the phone and call the Sacramento Kings to discuss the possibility of bringing Gastonia-native Hassan Whiteside back to North Carolina. I thought Whiteside would be a target this past offseason, but the Hornets elected to resign Bismack Biyombo instead of bringing in another veteran center.

Whiteside would certainly solve the Hornets’ rim protection and rebounding problems. He’s playing on a veteran’s minimum contract this season ($2.3 million). Whiteside could be a player that hits the buyout market. The Hornets could get ahead of that by offering a conditional second-round pick to Kings.