While it wasn’t necessarily good news for Cody Zeller that the Charlotte Hornets traded for Dwight Howard, who could potentially take up his starting center spot, Zeller still saw the bright side of things.
Zeller told Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer that upon first learning of the Howard trade, his initial reaction was: “Now I don’t have to play him four times a season.”
Zeller will likely come off the bench with Howard now on the team, but he sees Howard’s addition as a positive in terms of easing the load on his body, which got beat up while playing guys like Howard.
“I got banged up so much, playing so many minutes,” said Zeller, who has gained about 10 pounds in the off-season to 250.
“A lot of times, I’m outsized by 40 or 50 pounds. I’m used to it — I can do it for games – but over four games in five nights or back-to-backs, my body starts to wear down.”
Zeller was one of the more under-the-radar most valuable players for any team last season. He averaged 10 points and 6.5 rebounds in 62 games and in the 20 games he missed due to lingering injuries, the Hornets went just 3-17.
The lack of a capable alternative at center whenever Zeller was out injured played a factor in Charlotte missing the playoffs last season. However, now that they have two competent pivots in Howard and Zeller, the Hornets should like their chances of making it back to the postseason.
Follow Us
Subscribe