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NBA free agency is always one of the hottest moments of the summer. Some seasons there are All-Stars seeking out new homes, which can shift the tide of the league. Some summers are defined by the crazy trades that can be made at the blink of an eye that nobody saw coming and that's what the Charlotte Hornets should be focused on swinging for. They have a pretty solid roster around LaMelo but are a few pieces away from being a real threat to teams in the Eastern Conference. Here are a few that could make them a lock for the playoffs in 2023.
Dejounte Murray
This is one that would certainly make LaMelo Ball happy. Both Dejounte Murray & Ball have several different types of interactions on Twitter, especially after the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. They were teammates on team Durant and had all sorts of different cool sound bites. Plus this pretty cool alley-op:
Throw The Lob Gang!!! 😅 (@MELOD1P) Voice 🗣⭐️ pic.twitter.com/OEQ89cMgKq
— Dejounte Murray (@DejounteMurray) February 22, 2022
Outside from their personal friendship, the two would instantly become one of the best young backcourts in the league on the Hornets. In the 2021-22 season, Murray averaged 21 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and led the league in steals with two per game. He showed last season that he is a legit two-way player. LaMelo Ball has shown that he could play on or off the ball after playing with Terry Rozier his first two seasons. Murray could fit right in with Charlotte, they would just have to ship off scary Terry & maybe Gordon Hayward. Which may not be too appealing for the San Antonio Spurs to bite on a possible trade.
Clint Capela
The Hornets have been missing out on the postseason the past two seasons primarily because they're lacking a man in the middle. Giving up points in the paint has been a weakness for this team for a little while now, unfortunately. Being able to nab a guy like Capela instantly erases that problem. When healthy, he is one of the best shot blockers in the league. He was a big piece of what the Atlanta Hawks did in 2022. The only downside of his game is that he isn't that much of a scoring threat. Capela only averaged 11 points per game last year but can help clean the glass and alter shots around the rim.
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The Hornets would probably feel pretty good about giving up either Rozier or Hayward, but the Hawks have an influx of guys at their position already. The Hawks would likely pass on a trade that features two pricey contracts, especially since they're still trying to find a co-star to play with Trae Young. Hayward & Rozier don't really fit that mold.
Robert Williams
The Boston Celtics were the number one defense for the second half of the 2021-22 season. That was in large part to Robert Williams patrolling the paint. He averaged two blocks and just under a steal a game. Williams was a key contributor in the Celtics run to the Finals as well. Despite missing games and playing hurt, Williams helped the Celtics swipe two games away from the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. Just like Capela, he doesn't offer a ton of upside on the offensive end, but can be a menace defensively.
Unlike Clint Capela, Williams can actually switch on to some smaller guards and wings in spurts. He is a little more versatile defensively. Again, that center position is what has been killing the Hornets for the past couple of seasons. Getting somebody to man that five spot can help this team really take a leap into the thick of Eastern Conference playoff hunt. It is just a pipe dream though. The Celtics let both Gordon Hayward & Terry Rozier go at one point to pursue greener pastures. After making it to the NBA Finals in 2022, it's safe to say that the Celtics don't really want them back, right?
All three guys would come in and make an impact for the Charlotte Hornets right away. Especially the centers that are mentioned above. Getting your point guard of the future and a big man that can hold it down on defense is essential for most teams throughout the league. Every playoff team pretty much had a guy like this. The Hornets gotta find a way to get some type of defensive specialist on the roster.
Williams is probably un-tradeable unless the right assets come along of course. While Capela is more available, but the Hornets do not have the pieces to obtain him. Murray would be an awesome fit in Charlotte and a great backcourt mate for years to come. The Hornets would need a miracle to get any of these guys. As unrealistic as some of these deals might be, it never hurts to attempt though. Maybe the Hornets can get lucky? Only time will tell as NBA free agency kicks soon.
