Trade Scenario #3 – Charlotte Hornets
OUT – Tyson Chandler and Troy Daniels
IN – Cody Zeller and Malik Monk
Why for the Hornets? After starting the season 5-3, Charlotte is in a four game free fall and now 5-7. Michael Jordan loves winners and you would have to think someone of Chandler’s pedigree and work ethic would be a blessing. Also, Zeller is in a filled front court and has two more years left on his contract than Chandler does. So, financially this trade would help Charlotte while bringing in a solid veteran to one of the youngest teams and a better fit backup center that can just focus on rebounds relieving Dwight Howard while Frank Kaminsky and Marvin Williams can focus on scoring. They lose Malik Monk but getting Troy Daniels helps numb that pain. Jeremy Lamb came out this year on a mission and Nicolas Batum is nearing a return.
Why for the Suns? Cody Zeller is owed around $12M per year for 4 years. Seems a little steep but if you look at solid big men and their contracts, realize this next statement. He is only 25, fits in the timeline, and is much better than shown. He shares a front court with Dwight Howard, Frank Kaminsky, Marvin Williams and at times even Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. He averages around 8 points 7 boards and 1 block in only 19 minutes. That’s a stunning 15.5 points 13.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per 36 minutes. Yeah, that’s asking for too much but there’s no reason he couldn’t put up numbers like 15 points 10 rebounds 1.5 blocks per game. He’d be locked up for four years on a good deal as the Suns starting center. Phoenix would also get a rookie they were very high on in Malik Monk. They worked him out three times. Whether next to Booker or as a 6th man, he’d offer a lot of firepower to a team in need of another weapon.