Charlotte Hornets
After signing Gordon Hayward in the offseason and drafting LaMelo Ball 3rd overall, there was a lot of hype surrounding the Hornets entering the season and so far, they have met their expectations. This team is very inexperienced when it comes to making the playoffs, but with Hayward and Rozier playing at a high-level, this team has what it takes to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
Fortifying their frontcourt with a young, talented center like Mo Bamba could make a lot of sense for the Hornets, especially since Cody Zeller is nothing more than a role player and set to become a free agent in the offseason. Charlotte is likely going to make the playoffs, but they are still a long ways away from being a true contender.
If the Hornets could get away with trading Jalen McDaniels and a future draft pick for Mo Bamba, then that would be a dream come true for them because of the upside Bamba possess. In just over 11 minutes per game this season, Mo Bamba is averaging 5.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game, which is why he could be a high-impact player for the Hornets.
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They need a guy who can be a rebounding machine and a presence defensively in the paint and at a low-cost, Mo Bamba can present the Hornets with a ton of value. With 20-25 minutes per game, Bamba could easily average 8+ rebounds and 2 blocks per game, which is exactly what the Hornets need in their frontcourt.
As long as they are not giving up any of their key rotation players like Miles Bridges, Devonte’ Graham or Malik Monk, this trade makes a lot of sense for the Hornets and they should be willing to pull the trigger on it immediately. Mo Bamba can easily be a reliable back up center right now in the league, but needs the right opportunity to do so.
Charlotte can give him this opportunity and who knows, he could just become the Hornets’ center of the future this season.
