Second-year Hornets forward Jalen McDaniels, fresh off a recent assignment with the club’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, may be able to stick with Charlotte’s rotation thanks to his improving defense, writes Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer.
The 6’10” McDaniels’ wingspan and positional fluidity will be key in helping the Hornets on defense. “Knowing my rotations, and being in the right spots,” McDaniels said of the solution to finessing his skill set guarding the opposition. “Being the best defender (possible) is going to keep me in the league for a long time.”
There’s more out of Charlotte:
- In another piece, Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer weighs the pros and cons of a possible Hornets trade for Hawks restricted free agent-to-be John Collins. The talented power forward/center, who will probably command a maximum salary – or close to it – in the offseason, could be one of the best players on the freshly-exciting Charlotte. He is averaging 17.6 PPG and 7.5 RPG while posting a stellar slash line of .538/.383/.849 for a middling Atlanta club.
- While a trade for Collins may not be realistic, it’s clear the Hornets need some level of upgrade at the center position, according to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. Their vulnerabilities protecting the paint were exposed most recently in a 130-121 loss to the Warriors Friday. Even if Charlotte has to sacrifice a young prospect like Devonte’ Graham or Malik Monk, Bonnell posits, it may be worth it for the upgrade at the five.
- Hobbled by injuries, the Hornets got some welcome availability news today, announcing that guard Caleb Martin is out of the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols and can suit up against the Kings tonight, the team announced on Twitter.
Trading Devonte would be tough. Monk has played better as of late and has increased his trade value. If one of them has to be dealt I’d prefer it to be Monk. Devonte has that “Gerald Wallace” quality to him with this team. #BuzzCity #AllFly
Monk would definitely be the preferable trade piece. He’s playing well but he’s a restricted free agent this offseason. And how much can II afford to pay the fourth best guard on your roster?
As for John Collins, I think he’s the wrong target. Andre Drummond – assuming he’d re-sign – would turn the Hornets into a legit Top 5 team in the East.
Cleveland’s got plenty of space to re-sign Monk. Send him, Zeller, Biyombo, and a pick to Cleveland and get this done. It’s too easy.
Devonte Graham seems the perfect trade chip for a team wanting to compete. He plays the same postition as Ball as well as Terry Rozier, BUT he is still thought of as a good young prospect. He will waste away in Charlotte, because they are more heavily invested in Ball. So for the good of the Hornets and the good of Graham it would be worth the risk of trading him because even if he blossoms elsewhere, he likely wouldn’t blossom with the Hornets.
What about this deal?
Hornets get
Al Horford
George Hill
the worst of OKC’s 3 2021 first round picks
Thunder get
Terry Rozier
Cody Zeller
Devonte Graham
Hill would replace the two PGs as LaMelo’s back up. Horford would be an upgrade over Zeller, albeit an expensive one. The Thunder could pair Rozier and Graham next to Shai and have a decent backcourt trio. Zeller is an expiring deal, but probably wouldn’t be that expensive to resign if he fit in. The first round pick won’t be missed simply because the Thunder will have to move some of them over the next few years. They have 10 first rounders over the next 4 drafts and the last time I checked, there was only a need for 5 players on the court at one time and only 15 players allowed on the roster because first round picks are unlikely to sign two way deals.
Solid thought process and agree with the bones in it but Id use all that same logic (and prospect capital ) to find someone a lil better/younger than Horford —
How bout Myles Turner? Hes never really fit in in Indy and has been dangled so so many times already ..
This would prolly have to be a 3 team trade (maybe even 4) as I dont know how much (guards) Indy would want but I think they have the pure capital to make it work if Indy isnt 100 on Myles……ofc Indy rarely ever trades but…..
I actually chose Horford because he has experience playing with Hayward. I think the fit could be very well there. And he could serve as a much better mentor to Washington, Richards, and Carey than a younger player that would be more likely to see them as competition instead of the next generation. Getting a young guy like Turner only puts you in the same position with Carey and Richards that you were just in with Graham.
Yea Horford has impressed this year no doubt but I worry about that clock tickin on him …Hes still small at Center and really imo just a really glorified/much better Zeller at this point (I dont think Zeller is terrible btw)
Experience def noted, and I actually think your trade proposal is more than enough- Fit would be good as well w Hayward and Ball who swing the ball so its def worth looking into…
Too me I guess I really wanna shoot for the moon w the big pairing w Ball…Big Turner fan, no clue if it would work as a pairing but its a big big big decision for Cha to make for the future.-
Horford for the next 1.5 yrs could be a nice little bridge tho indeed , 2023 would be weird on payroll w (probable) Horford buyout and Batum I think still registered against the books
I understand your thought process. I thought Danny Ainge was a moron for not taking Turner in the Gordon Hayward deal. I am a big Turner fan as well. I just don’t see the fit now in Charlotte. If they had traded for Turner this past offseason instead of drafting both Carey and Richards, I would have applauded them. But even though they were second round picks, I think the Hornets are pretty much committed to at least one of the two young guys as the future at 5.
Trading for Turner and drafting for needed help at the 3 instead of both Carey and Richards and I believe the Hornets would be right there with the Hawks as having the brightest future in the division and arguably the entire Eastern conference.
No thx. Rozier has settled in at the 2. That deal turns the Hornets’ backcourt from a strength to a weakness.
Neither Hill nor Ball can play the 2. And Horford is years past his prime, on a horrible contract.
I’ve been watching The Martin twins since their days at Nevada. Standing side-by-side and even knowing their names I still can’t get it right which is which. They play little different and have very different shooting forms and different roles on the floor but wow until I’m watching them play I couldn’t tell you who’s who.
I love their defense and athleticism and laying all on the floor attitude. Definite assets on any team.
I personally like Caleb a little more than Cody…
Graham and Monk is not a good return for Collins.
PJ Washington went for 42 the other night. They’re set at the 4.
Collins doesn’t make much sense for Charlotte.
And anyone that thinks Rozier isn’t part of the future isn’t paying attention. He and and Hayward are both averaging 20/game. The Hornets haven’t had a duo do that in 25 years.
Monk will the centerpiece of any deal. He’s a nice scorer off the bench, but he doesn’t play D and he’s an RFA this year.
Funny how people says Graham is a good young prospect, right?
Graham is good for sure, but he ain’t no young at all, he is like 26 at least, although he is just starting his 3rd year in the league!
Reminds me of Chris Boucher of TOR people keeps talkin’ ’bout him as a young prospect, dude is like 28 at least, so he is anythin’ but young, right?
“He is like 26 at least”
I think we have just discovered that you are a teenager. 26 is VERY young, even in the NBA. If you assume an NBA career starts at 20 and can go all the way until 40, that gives you a 20 year span. 26 is only 30% of the way through that range.
And even if you want to claim that the last few years in the late 30s are not productive, you also have to accept that the first few year are also not productive for most. So they really cancel each other out.
Either way the point is that 26 is still VERY young.
He just turned 26 last week, so he’s barely 26.
“Young” must include down to 19 and 26 is too old to be in that group. He is prime-aged, maybe 25-31. Anyway not VERY young, not a teen.
I wouldn’t stop prime at 31. With most stars it goes up to about 33-35. Look at Durant. He is 32 and I don’t think people are talking about him being on the downhill slide just yet.
I always think of prime as 27-34. That is the way it has pretty much always been defined in MLB. Maybe it is a year or two younger to start in hoops, but I don’t think it ends any sooner.
It is younger in the NBA … I was thinking you might be relating to MLB which yes 27-33 is prime
Really it shouldn’t matter which sport you are talking about when referring to athletic prime. 27-33 is just when the human body is in its peak condition. Of course there are exceptions, but on average it fall into that range.
Yes 33 is better but in BB it depends on size/position too, with smaller guys relying on speed traditionally not lasting as long.
BB wil only get younger as I’m sure hiflew is not happy about either.
26 is the scientific age for human maturity overall. Better get your weight down by then!
If the Hornets took back Bogdans bad contract, Graham, Monk, and Zeller would probably be enough for Collins. I mean they gotta already regret that deal.
No way if Im Cha, Id just clear Roziers salary at some point prior and offer max (ish) money in offseason for Collins- Dish Graham for value this year and not be saddled w Bogs
Atl – Def regrets, on pretty much all their fa buys
Ive always kinda been big on Monk, almost feel he’s the one they should keep outta Him Roz and Graham valu$ wise
Collins is not a C to me. And he’s not a rim protector. So I don’t get their train of thought. Collins is better than any 4 they have. And would make a nice fit with Hayward. They should be looking at McGee or Bamba. Hawks imo can afford to trade Collins they have Okongwu. They should be able to get a nice package for him. Or a good player they need (SG) and pick.
Way I see it, they kinda have to trade Collins with the contracts they handed out this past offseason –
Agree the 4 is covered in ATl w Danillo and Oko
Collins will be an overpay this offseason for sure, but with so little available (bigs) talent and open cap space around the league a well justified one for a team with a clean ledger…..until its not years down the road !
If Pops is a fan I could see SA making a quite under the radar push with LaMarcus departing and nothing in tow down low
I don’t want them to trade Graham. Monk, fine, whatever. If they find a deal that works, go for it. Not Graham though, and definitely not for Collins. Thers is no reason to give us assets to a rival when they could eventually just sign Collins in Free Agency.
The idea of conveniently getting a upgrade to Zeller should be considered Dead, man.
The average age of an NBA player is 27. So, 26 is young, but not very young, for that league.
I like Graham, and wouldn’t necessarily be bullish on trading for Collins at this point (vs maybe signing him to an offer sheet this summer). But Graham is also going to be a RFA this summer. He’s likely to get offers well in excess of what most teams would pay a backup PG. They can match, though the minute they do, he’s less of any asset than he is now.
Not 100% sure they necessarily need help at the 5, more than help at the 2/3 spots off the bench. I’d move Graham though, but I’ve also said that since last year now, so dont know if that’s going to happen, at this point