If the Hornets don’t make a move at NBA trade deadline, it won’t be for a lack of trying
Mitch Kupchak has yet to make an in-season trade as Charlotte Hornets general manager.
That’s about to change.
It’s common sense, with his team losing 11 of the last 12 games, that Kupchak would work the phones hard this week. Published reports have linked the Hornets to interest in the New York Knicks’ Julius Randle and the Sacramento Kings’ Bogdan Bogdanovic.
The Knicks reportedly have interest in Hornets shooting guard Malik Monk. Since Randle makes about $19 million this season, Monk’s $4 million salary wouldn’t be enough to balance a deal under NBA rules. Adding Marvin Williams and his $15 million salary would.
The Hornets flew to Houston after Monday’s home loss to the Orlando Magic. Tuesday’s game against the Rockets is the Hornets’ final one before the trade deadline. No one in that locker room will be surprised if a deal goes down.
I asked coach James Borrego how he handles that. The last thing this team needs in this slump is a distraction.
“If there’s a player that might be concerned or worried, I’ll address it individually,” Borrego said.
“The locker room is healthy. Those guys are spirited.”
I agree that the atmosphere around this roster — a sense of togetherness and unselfishness — is healthy. The problem isn’t attitude, it’s talent. The Hornets are lacking there, defensively, particularly at the rim. Now that teams are locked in on defending point guard Devonte Graham — who has shot 14 of 45 from the field in his last four games — Charlotte is relatively easy to defend.
It doesn’t matter how Borrego assembles the parts, there is just not enough there right now. It’s Kupchak’s job to raise the talent base. He has drafted well since coming on in Spring 2018, but he’s yet to trade for an impact veteran.
ANALYSIS: BREAKING DOWN EVERY HORNETS PLAYERS’ TRADE VALUE
Heavy pressure
When I spoke with Kupchak in the preseason, he mentioned how much pressure he feels to perform in this job, working for an iconic basketball figure in Hornets owner Michael Jordan.
That quote hung with me because I wasn’t asking Kupchak about Jordan. It was important for him to volunteer the urgency he feels to turn this thing around for arguably the greatest basketball player ever.
Kupchak oversees a tricky balance: He’s finally months away from getting the Hornets significantly below the salary cap in July once three expensive contracts (Williams, Bismack Biyombo and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist) expire. That’s enough of a reason to not chase quick fixes.
Alternately, he recognizes this team is in desperate need of talent. With Kemba Walker gone, there is no difference-maker. They lack a starter-quality shooting guard and a young alternative at center.
Gambles
I can see why Kupchak would inquire about Randle and Bogdanovich. He drafted Randle in 2014 when Kupchak was GM of the Los Angeles Lakers. Bogdanovich has some scoring ability and length (a 6-foot-11 wingspan) that could help.
But either would be a gamble. Randle would have to play center, with rookie P.J. Washington set at power forward. At 6-8, Randle is small by NBA center standards. He’s a scorer and a rebounder, but he wouldn’t address the need for rim-protection.
Bogdanovich is a proven 3-point threat (37 percent for his career), but is he a clear starter candidate for the long haul? Questionable. Also, since he’s entering restricted free agency, he wouldn’t be cheap to retain.
Kupchak should be exploring these and any other possibilities. This roster has plenty of flaws. He’s finally on the verge of having the cap flexibility to really reshape this group.
That would feel like a burden under any circumstance. Bigger when the real-life Jumpman logo is your boss.
