NBA Trade Rumors: Teams That Should Trade For Brook Lopez

1. Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Bobcats won 43 games and ended the postseason drought behind the efforts of starting center Al Jefferson in 2013-14. The Charlotte Hornets won 48 games while continuing to rely on the presence of quality interior players in 2015-16.

Steve Clifford still values the abilities of a low-post scoring threat, which makes the Hornets the perfect option to acquire Lopez in 2016-17.

Charlotte has four high-quality starters in Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Marvin Williams. It also has a promising young big man in Frank Kaminsky, whom Clifford has utilized at both big man positions.

If the Hornets are looking to make an immediate run through the Eastern Conference, however, then targeting Lopez should be the focus down low.

Lopez would help stabilize the Hornets’ offense as a low-post presence who complements his back-to-the-basket attack with an efficient midrange game. He’s not much of a rebounder, but he is a shot-blocker who consistently alters shots at the rim.

The Hornets won 48 games with instability at center in 2015-16, and Lopez—a better two-way player than Jefferson—could help them push for 50 in 2016-17.

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It would be a risk to part ways with some of the younger players and a draft pick, but Lopez could be worth the risk for Clifford and the Hornets.