Charlotte Hornets Should Strongly Consider Trading Noah Vonleh
By Joseph Crevier
@JosephMCrevier
David Dow-Getty Images
Once an NBA laughingstock, the Charlotte Hornets entered the 2014 offseason coming off a playoff berth in a weak East and in possession of another lottery pick acquired via a prior trade, along with ample cap space to potentially grab some elite-level talent.
Michael Jordan wound up with the ninth overall pick in a loaded 2014 draft, and was lucky enough to have 6-foot-10 power forward Noah Vonleh fall into his lap after the big man slipped from his projected top-five spot. This was analyzed as a brilliant pick as Charlotte now had a formidable collection of talent who could really complement each other’s respective games.
Free agency then played into the Hornets’ favor as Jordan convinced former Indiana Pacers shooting guard Lance Stephenson to sign at a bargain price of three-years, $27 million.
This is quite possibly the best team that Charlotte has possessed since their formation in 2004, so why not swing for the fences and attempt to compete immediately? Several trade pieces are currently available, veteran power forward David West in particular. When the Pacers lost Stephenson to free agency and Paul George to his devastating leg injury, the championship window was slammed shut for that group. An aging West is in no way prepared to undergo a rebuilding year, but with two-years and about $24.5 million remaining on his deal, he will have to be traded if he plans on competing.
Charlotte has a wide open spot at the power forward position as neither Vonleh nor Marvin Williams are talented enough to carry the Hornets to a title run. Vonleh may become that player eventually, but if a potential West trade arises, why not just go for it? West’s bring tenacity and defensive firepower to a frontcourt that has been desperately missing just that.
Additionally, he has already played with Stephenson, so that familiarity would be invaluable to Stephenson as he adjusts to his new climate. A package deal centered around Vonleh could be sufficient to force Larry Bird‘s hand at sending West to Charlotte.
Joseph Crevier covers the New York Knicks for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, @JosephMCrevier, and Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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