Charlotte Hornets: A Potential Trade For Arron Afflalo

The Denver Nuggets are openly shopping shooting guard, Arron Afflalo, and interest has been high. He would arguably be a perfect fit for the Charlotte Hornets, particularly with the many injuries they’ve had to deal with.

A potential trade:

Hornets get:

Arron Afflalo

Nuggets get:

Lance Stephenson
Future second round pick

This deal works financially, according to the ESPN Trade Machine, and would be an unusual scenario in which it would move both teams in the direction they’re wanting to go without much of a risk for either one.

Denver gets a young, dynamic playmaker that could be a piece for them to build around in the future, while Charlotte receives a perfect piece for their scheme to help them make a push for the playoffs.

Many have been quick to label Lance Stephenson as a burden, but it’s clearly a matter of not fitting the scheme. He hasn’t been able to provide Charlotte what they need, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he isn’t talented. After all, we’re quick to forget that Stephenson led the league in triple-doubles just a season ago.

Something else that many seem to forget is that Stephenson has a very team-friendly contract. Afflalo is likely going to leave Denver this offseason anyway, so this gives them one and half seasons to see how Stephenson would fit. After next season, they have a team option to let him go, should they decide he isn’t worth keeping.

All along, Charlotte has needed a player that can be a perimeter threat in order to open things up for Al Jefferson down low. Now that Kemba Walker will be out for at least a few more weeks, the need to space the floor for Jefferson has increased significantly.

The Hornets are currently the seventh seed in the East, with the sixth (and maybe even the fifth) seed being a realistic possibility. Afflalo could be the piece that gets the Hornets into the playoffs and makes them a serious presence once they’re there.

Best of all, this move shuffles the roster in an optimum way for the Charlotte Hornets. Through previous trade rumors, it’s been clear that the front office just wants Stephenson gone. This deal satisfies that without giving up any young pieces and only a second-rounder, while allowing them to still make a push this season.

If things don’t work for the remainder of the year, Charlotte has the option to just let Afflalo walk in free agency this summer.

Of course, all of this is contingent upon Denver loosening their first-round pick expectations, but that could (and should if they want to get anything out of Afflalo) happen as we approach the Feb. 19. If it does, this could be a great low-risk, high-reward option for both Denver and the Charlotte Hornets.

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