The 30-team NBA mega-trade that solves nothing and makes everyone mad
By Ian Levy
Charlotte Hornets
Sending out: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (ATL), 2018 first round pick (PHX)
Bringing in: Jordan Clarkson (LAL), Stanley Johnson (DET), Kay Felder (CLE)
The Charlotte Hornets have been engaged in a long slow slide out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. They are currently ranked 11th in the East and with each passing day, their playoffs dwindle. The problems have been mostly on the offensive end — the team boasts a top-10 defense but ranks just 19th in offensive efficiency. Finding a way to juice up that offensive attack without sacrificing too much defensive potential or athleticism would offer an intriguing path forward for Charlotte.
This deal appears to have them paying a steep price — Kidd-Gilchrist and a future first — but those assets aren’t helping the Hornets much right now. Kidd-Gilchrist is a fantastic defender but his offense is bad enough to effectively render him a net-neutral player. The Hornets are pushing to be good right now and so a first rounder next season is (hopefully) not a lottery pick.
In return, the Hornets add some offense and some potential. Clarkson is not a good defender, at least right now, but he’s a versatile offensive player who can slot in at either guard slot. He has become marginalized somewhat in Los Angeles but he has room to grow as an outside shooter and he could help move the ball with the second unit. Stanley Johnson appears to be a younger version of Kidd-Gilchrist at this point — a plus defender struggling to find offensive efficiency. Felder is intriguing as a potential long-shot backup point guard.
It’s a shake-up for the Hornets but, frankly, their status quo hasn’t looked so hot.