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The Charlotte Hornets have been a major disappointment this season and sit at just 22-29 as we approach the All-Star break. With Kemba Walker’s recent injury, it looked like the Hornets could be in real trouble. However, with the team fully invested in winning this season, the Hornets made a smart move by trading for point guard Mo Williams from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 32 year old Williams didn’t fit with the youth movement in Minnesota, but he has been having a strong season filling in for Ricky Rubio. Williams is averaging 12.2 points per game and 6.4 assists per game, the latter being a full assist higher than Walker’s season total. Though his three point shooting has slipped down to 34.7% this year, Williams has posted a 14.36 PER and and 30.7 assist ratio, the second best total of his career.
The Hornets gave up Gary Neal and a second round pick to acquire Williams, Troy Daniels and cash considerations, a small price to pay for what Williams can bring to the table. Williams’ playmaking skills should help improve a Charlotte offense that ranks 25th in the NBA in assists per game and 29th in offensive efficiency. Additionally, Williams is a career 38.2% three point shooter who should be able to boost the Hornets’ floor spacing, as the team ranks 27th in made threes per game and dead last in three point shooting percentage.
Despite being seven games below .500, the Hornets are still sitting in 7th place in the Eastern Conference. However, they are barely holding off a host of challengers and have just a three game lead over the 12th place Indiana Pacers (they’re 6.5 games back of the 6th place Milwaukee Bucks). Adding Williams, who will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, solidifies Charlotte’s rotation and gives them a very solid placeholder while Walker is out. When Walker returns, Williams will be excellent depth for the stretch run.
All in all, this is a trade that should give the Hornets enough of a boost to secure a playoff spot and give them a fighting chance against one of the East’s top four teams in the first round. Given the low price they paid for Williams and how well he fits their needs, this is an excellent piece of business from the Hornets.
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