Charlotte Hornets: Potential 2021 NBA Draft trade up or down scenarios

The Hornets give Mo Bamba a second chance

Hornets Draft Selections:

8th: SF Scottie Barnes

57th: C EJ Onu

This one is fun. The Hornets part with Carey Jr., #11, #56, and also a future first-round selection to move up to #8 and acquire a young center who can help and grow with their young core. Adding Scottie Barnes, Moses Moody, Keon Johnson, or Jalen Johnson, whom the Hornets had a private workout, would be electric for this franchise. All of those guys can fill needs and most players that could potentially be selected right there would help out in some way and maybe even have star potential also.

With #57, expect the Hornets to take a gamble on a pretty high-upside prospect there, so a swing at EJ Onu would not be bad at all, although a highly-athletic Juhann Begarin or even Isaiah Todd could be some nice selection as well.

Factor in Mo Bamba, who is a shot-blocking big who can also space the floors by knocking down threes at a decent rate and also run the pick and roll makes this deal even sweeter for Charlotte. Adding two very nice pieces for the young core makes the Hornets a ton scarier for the long haul.

Meanwhile, Orlando flips a seldom-used center and moves back only three spots in exchange for a protected future first, a second, and Carey Jr. This deal all depends on how both these teams view Bamba’s value. This could be a blockbuster deal to shake up the Hornets.