Complicated Market Awaits The Hornets If They Buy At The Deadline

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“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

Albert Einstein uttered these words some 50 years before the Charlotte Hornets came into existence but boy do they ever apply to the Buzz City hoopsters.

Charlotte’s fast start to this season has fizzled over December and January. Injuries, inconsistency and a general lack of high-end talent have held the team back.

They currently find themselves in the midst of a six-game road trip out west where they’ve been blown out multiple times while falling several games below the .500 mark.

There are positives. The offense installed by James Borrego has shown glimpses, Jeremy Lamb’s continued development and a few bright flashes (albeit inconsistent) from their youngsters.

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Still, this is a team in the playoff hunt for an organization that seems hell-bent on retaining Kemba Walker.

If a playoff push (and keeping Walker) is to be realistic, one thing is clear.

THIS TEAM NEEDS A LOT OF HELP.

The two biggest names that could be available, Anthony Davis of the Pelicans and Bradley Beal of the Wizards, are both out of the picture for Hornets GM Mitch Kupchak. Realistically, the Hornets just don’t have the assets to complete a deal for either.
With those two names off the board, the Hornets should be in search of a combination of shot creators, scoring, size and defense.

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Below are a few names which have either been linked to Charlotte or who may make sense given their needs.

Cleveland forward Kevin Love- Love should be attractive to a team like Charlotte. He showed a willingness to make great sacrifices in the name of winning in Cleveland and still brings spacing, rebounding and a passing ability which would stand out in James Borrego’s offense. Yet, he’s 30 with a significant injury history including a current toe injury and a god awful contract. He also needs to be protected on the defensive end. Charlotte should only pull the trigger if it’s the right price.

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Chicago forward Jabari Parker- Parker is a fascinating name for the Hornets. The former Blue Devil was the number two pick five years ago and is still just 23 years old. He’s also had several significant injuries and has openly expressed a reluctance to play any modicum of defense in Chicago. The upside would be worth considering if you are Charlotte but this isn’t someone you sell the farm for.

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Miami center Hassan Whiteside- This one is outside the box for both teams but Whiteside would solidify the Hornets defense at the rim and take their performance on the glass to the next level. His contract isn’t great but the Gastonia native likely won’t cost much either. Miami would have to take on a bad contract in return too.

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Atlanta guard Jeremy Lin- This former Hornet would take a lot of the offensive pressure off Kemba Walker. A high-end shooter that can run the offense and allow Kemba to focus more on scoring. The Hornets have also seen this combo together before so they know it will work. Defensively, Lin won’t give you much, but his offensive production would surpass the price to acquire him. Atlanta has a few more players that might be of interest to Charlotte (Dwayne Dedmon, namely) so an interesting package could be built to help both teams.

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Chicago forward Bobby Portis- Portis may not be the name you are hoping for but he is a legit stretch big whose shooting has vastly improved the past three years. That includes the development of a consistent 3 point shot from Portis too. In addition, he’s a high energy player who gives effort on the defensive end. While not a rim protector, his effort could spark a defensive turnaround for Charlotte. Portis would be a sneaky good addition to the Hornets.

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This list might be uninspiring to Hornets fans but it’s realistic for a team in salary cap hell without an overabundance of assets. Without the assets to nab a top 20 player, there isn’t a huge market for the next level of players.

Without one true difference maker, the Hornets might be better off focusing on a deal that brings them several players who can fill multiple needs.

It might not be sexy but in this midst of the Hornets difficulties, it’s likely their best opportunity to make a realistic playoff push.