3 Just-traded players Hornets should have gone after

Player #2: Ochai Ogbaji

Ogbaji was a late lottery pick in the 2022 NBA draft after leading the Kansas Jayhawks to a national title. He’s yet another 6’5”, 23-year-old shooting guard, and possesses a lot of the same traits and skills as Grimes does.

Like Grimes, Agbaji found himself a bit of an odd man out in a crowded backcourt as Utah has seen great play from veterans Collin Sexton, Kris Dunn, Jordan Clarkson, and the rookie Keyonte George.

Ochai has largely fallen behind those guys, and that led to him being dealt to Toronto along with Kelly Olynyk for a first-round pick. As a rookie, he averaged 8 points and 2 rebounds a game on 36% three-point shooting in just over 20 minutes a game. That’s something to build on, and there’s reason to believe Agbaji can take another step.

He proved he was a winner in college at the highest level, and he can definitely create shots and knock them down. He would have been a very nice young flier for the Hornets and would have fit well into what the team is building at a position of need.

I’m a little surprised the Jazz were willing to move on from Agbaji already, but they have tons of depth and a first-round pick was on the table. Danny Ainge is going to take that ten times out of ten.