Charlotte Hornets Receive: F Al Horford

Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: F Jalen McDaniels, TOR 2022 2nd Round Pick, BOS 2024 2nd Round Pick

The main goal of the Thunder is to continue adding youthful talent to their roster and stockpile more and more draft picks, which is why trading away Al Horford to the Hornets this offseason is productive for them. They are going to move him, whether it is via trade or via a buyout agreement, which is why this trade makes a ton of sense. 

They may even be willing to move him for one or two second-round picks without Jalen McDaniels being involved in the deal, but they would definitely love the idea of getting the young forward in exchange for Horford. 

RELATED: NBA Trade Rumors: 4 teams who will regret not being “buyers” at the trade deadline

Now in his second season with the Hornets, Jalen McDaniels has not seen the court much, but he has a lot of potential given his length and size. He stands about 6’10” on the court and with a 7-foot wingspan, he has all the qualities to be an impactful two-way player in this league given the opportunities to prove himself. 

He plays well above the rim and in about 14 minutes per game over the course of his young career, McDaniels has averaged about 4.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and has shot 45.6% from the floor. He is still very underdeveloped and a very raw prospect in terms of not having an identity in the league, but with a young team like the Thunder, who have one of the best developmental programs in the league, they could find a diamond in the rough with McDaniels. 

As stated before, the Hornets could probably get away with offering 1-2 second-round picks for Horford, but including McDaniels in the trade should get the deal done quickly. Al Horford would be a great pickup for the Charlotte Hornets, so let’s dive into why this trade makes sense for both the Thunder and the Hornets.