Hornets trade deadline: 3 Options Charlotte can take
By Quinn Everts
Hornets trade deadline: 1. Small “Help Now” Trades That Do Not Jeopardize Future Success
The Hornets likely can’t compete with the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Miami Heat’s of the world this season. Even so, the Hornets shoring up some deficiencies and giving their best college try at being a competitive team would be a noble act! As I said, the rebuild is ahead of schedule– anything more than a playoff berth is house money, so throwing some chips towards a potential series win, without messing up what should be a very bright future– is a fine idea.
In this scenario, the Hornets are willing to send out some picks, or a couple of bench players to take on expiring contracts or players who need a change of scenery. These moves would be akin to the Courtney Lee deal that Charlotte made in 2016.
The Hornets’ struggles at the center position have been well-documented. Mason Plumlee brings a versatile skill set but has struggled with consistency this season. Young guys like JT Thor, Kai Jones, and Nick Richards aren’t quite ready for consistent NBA minutes yet, and PJ Washington has seen success as a small-ball center but is often overmatched by size.
Enter Isaiah Hartenstein! This isn’t a flashy deal, but it gives the Hornets bench some size at the center position. The Clippers receive an emergency point guard and a draft pick for Hartenstein’s expiring contract; the asking price for Hartenstein should be relatively low.
Javale McGee has been great for Phoenix this year, but with Deandre Ayton finally getting healthy, and the emergence of… Bismack Biyombo (?) McGee might become expendable in the Suns’ rotation. McDaniels can provide Phoenix some end of bench shooting depth and defensive versatility. The Hornets also pick up a draft pick, something Phoenix shouldn’t care too much about for the time being; they are focused on putting up banners in Footprint Center (weird name for an arena.)