The 2024-25 NBA regular season is only about to enter its third week, yet the Charlotte Hornets may have already experienced their worst-case scenario in this campaign.
Among their injury concerns are being without Mark Williams since training camp and missing Brandon Miller for several games. Now, they have to deal with the news that Nick Richards will be sidelined for at least two weeks after sustaining a rib fracture.
It certainly is an unfortunate turn of events, as Richards has been averaging career-highs across the board with 11.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. He was also a massive reason for the Hornets being one of the top rebounding teams in the early going of the 2024-25 campaign.
5 Big men the Hornets should check out in free agency
Without the 26-year-old hoopster for at least four more contests, Charlotte's big man depth will take a significant hit. Maybe Williams' return is in the offing, but the front office hasn't provided any optimistic update regarding its starting center.
As such, the Hornets might have to make some moves to offset the absence of the pair of pivots. They opted to start veteran Taj Gibson in their recent meeting with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Other roster pieces who can man the fort include Grant Williams, Moussa Diabate, and Tidjane Salaun. However, it's evident that Charlotte needs size.
Fortunately, the organization may have a few options in free agency, although it will have to release or trade away a player to open a roster spot.
Bismack Biyombo
Maybe a familiar face is what the Hornets need. Bismack Biyombo began his NBA career with the franchise in 2011 when it was still known as the Charlotte Bobcats. He spent seven seasons across two stints with the team, and a third is possible if the front office decides to bring in a veteran rim protector.
Biyombo is a bit limited offensively, although he has always been an efficient scorer through his 13 seasons in the league. His potential value, though, lies in his defense, rebounding, and leadership.
Moses Brown
After going undrafted in 2019, Moses Brown has yet to stick with an NBA team for an extended period. Even so, he has shown the potential to be a serviceable rotation player in his brief stints with various squads. His career averages of 13.5 points and 15.5 rebounds per 36 minutes are quite impressive, as well as his 56.3 percent shooting from the field.
It's unclear why Brown still isn't on an NBA team. Perhaps Charlotte can give him a shot. After all, his size and skillset can be of use, especially for a squad missing two of its big men. And if Williams and Richards finally get a clean bill of health, the University of California, Los Angeles product could be effective as a third-string center.
Harry Giles III
Harry Giles III suited up for the franchise in training camp but was waived a little over a week before the start of the regular season. He is still expected to play for Charlotte's G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.
With the injuries the Hornets have had to deal with, maybe they should bring in the North Carolina native on the main squad instead. Giles III has displayed solid rebounding prowess and efficient scoring throughout his NBA career, and those should be enough for Charlotte to consider adding him again.
Dwight Howard
Former Hornet Dwight Howard is currently out of the league but still hasn't given up on his dreams of playing in the NBA again. He has auditioned via social media for several teams, most notably the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he should probably shift this attention to Charlotte.
The last time Howard suited up in the league was in the 2021-22 campaign. Yet, he still looks in tip-top shape, as his basketball career is still alive in Taiwan.
JaVale McGee
Another veteran who remains unsigned by an NBA franchise is JaVale McGee. He played for the Sacramento Kings last season, and, in limited minutes, was still able to produce decent numbers. His per-36-minute averages were 19.6 points and 13.4 rebounds.
In addition to his capability of taking over for Williams and Richards when they are on the injury report, McGee also has the championship pedigree that could make him an effective leader for a young Hornets squad.