One of the Charlotte Hornets’ biggest flaws over the past couple of years has been their lack of center play. They always seem to be in trade talks for centers on the market. Whether that be Myles Turner, Richaun Holmes, or Jakob Poeltl, Charlotte has been in talks for a big man. With free agency fast approaching, here are some cheap viable options Charlotte can bring in.
Charlotte Hornets Must Add Center
1. Mitchell Robinson
The Knicks’ future is very confusing. They seem like a team that should rebuild with a struggling roster, yet Tom Thibodeau refuses to play the young guys and chooses to play the vets instead. With the Knicks having a bleak future, and Robinson’s rookie contract expiring, he may look to branch out.
With Mitchell Robinson averaging 8.5 points per game on 76% shooting from the field, he would shine as Charlotte’s big man. He is a serious lob threat to put alongside LaMelo Ball. He also provides a much-needed defensive presence down low, as P.J. Washington isn’t a great defensive power forward. Robinson would be Charlotte’s ideal target as at the age of 24, he is still young enough to grow with the team but has enough experience to play solid minutes.
2. Naz Reid
Naz Reid would be an interesting pairing alongside Charlotte. As a player that hasn’t proven much as a starter, he is an underrated prospect. In his 6 games started without Karl-Anthony Towns, Naz put up 15.5 points and 8 rebounds. He did this all while shooting 54% from the field and 35% from three. His ability to space the floor while also being a presence down low could give a whole new dynamic to Charlotte’s offense. If Minnesota doesn’t look to re-sign him look for Charlotte to make a push.
3. Mo Bamba
Mo Bamba was seen as a player with a lot of hype coming out of Texas. That may be due to the hit song “Mo Bamba” but he was a good prospect. The former 6th overall pick has good size and an ability to stretch the floor. He could be an interesting player if Orlando doesn’t want to bring him back.
Bamba put up 10.5 points and 8 rebounds per game this season. He shot 48% from the field but an impressive 38% from three. He also put up almost 2 blocks per game. Bamba is still 23 and shows high potential as last year was his best season. Now that he’s been given a chance to start, he has proven he can be a quality player. If Bamba went to Charlotte, he could be a full-time starter.
4. Hassan Whiteside
All three players listed before have been young players with high potential. Hassan Whiteside is a vet that has proven himself in this league. He averaged 8 points per game this year on 65% shooting from the field. He also had 7.5 rebounds per game. His most impressive feat though has always been his rim protection. He put up 1.6 blocks in only his 18 minutes played. He has led the league in blocks multiple times in his career. His interior presence would bolster Charlotte’s defense to a level it’s never been before. He would also provide some good veteran leadership to a relatively young roster.
5. Andre Drummond
Andre Drummond is a former All-Star in this league. Even though he’s on the downside of his career, he still shows flashes of being a decent player. Since he’s embraced the job of being a role player, he has been very efficient as a back-up on quality teams. Drummond averaged 8 points and 9 rebounds in only 20 minutes per game. His ability to rebound is his biggest strength. If they put him in a role where he got a ton of boards while also being a lob threat, he could be a quality center option for the Hornets.
Charlotte Hornets Center Options
Charlotte always has the option to trade for a center if need be. If they decide against this, there are multiple quality center options they can look for in free agency. Charlotte is getting closer and closer to contention as they now will have a new coach, and LaMelo Ball will continue to blossom. Hopefully, they can find that quality center to add to this.
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