How have they been off in Charlotte? Basketball President of operations, Jeff Peterson, did not take long to transform the roster of the Hornets, dragging with it a series of moves that portray ambition and a sense of urgency. The signing of Collin Sexton and Pat Connaughton, the experienced hand of Spencer Dinwiddie, and the four potential rookies of the NBA Draft have spread a new wave of hope to Buzz City.
However, there is a new issue that accompanies all that talent, a roster log jam. There will always be an odd man out.
Who’s the Trade Candidate?
A number of names may come up as a potential trade piece, which includes such: Miles Bridges, Grant Williams, Nick Smith Jr., but one is more logical, and this is Joshua Green. With the shoulder injury still in her system and with stiff competition in crowded wing rotation, Green is no longer this close to having any meaningful role in Charlotte.
Those preconditions are probably the most obvious problem that the Hornets have, namely, a lack of a real center.
The Center Problem
Entering the season with the duo of Mason Plumlee, Moussa Diabate, and rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner is not sustainable when a team is looking to the playoffs. It has created a distinct gap in the five position of Charlotte, a rim guard and defensive anchor that can stabilize the paint and put the ceiling on the team, after Mark Williams was dealt away.
In case the Hornets are planning to transition to the next phase of the developing phase, which is the competing phase, that gap should be bridged.
The Trade Proposal: Daniel Gafford.
Enter Daniel Gafford. The possible transaction will be to sell the athletic big man to Josh Greene, Tidjane Salaun, and an unprotected first-round pick (through Dallas) in 2027.
It seems violent at a glance. It is never safe to trade an unprotected first-rounder, particularly when you are betting on the long-term depreciation of such stars as Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Anthony Davis. Yet this is where there is an opportunity that is a calculated risk.
Gafford fits in Charlotte almost. He fits in the pick-and-roll, he is an expert at transition, and he introduces the type of vertical spacing that turns an offense. Combining him with such guards as Sexton and Dinwiddie would open effortless buckets at the rim and generate a lot of needed floor clearance for the Charlotte snipers. On the defensive side, he would provide the Hornets with a quality interior player, which they severely need on the roster.
Why This Move Matters
Getting Gafford would not only cover a hole, but it would change the identity of Charlotte. It would demonstrate that Peterson and the Hornets are not just willing to build a talent pool to develop in the future, but they want to win in the present.
My Take
Yes, it is painful to give up an unguaranteed first-round pick. The necessity of Charlotte in a center is acute and unquestionable. Daniel Gafford is not only an upgrade but the very thing that this roster needs. The relocation would accelerate the growth of the youthful foundation of the Hornets and provide them with a strong opportunity in an ever-competitive Eastern Conference.
Cautious optimism is not always sufficient. Charlotte needs to take a risk to demonstrate that it is serious about competing today. And the triggering of Gafford could be an act that takes a statement.
