NBA Trade Deadline 2018: 5 teams that could use Emmanuel Mudiay

The Hornets tried to find a solution to their backup point guard issue when they signed Michael Carter-Williams to a one-year deal in the offseason. Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked very well, and they’re as close to last place in the conference as they are to making the playoffs as an No. 8 seed. Kemba Walker is averaging nearly 35 minutes a game, and they could really use another playmaker.

The Nuggets could send Wilson Chandler, who could play in the frontcourt alongside Marvin Williams, and Mudiay to Charlotte in exchange for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Carter-Williams. It’s a trade that gives the Hornets an opportunity to take a chance on Mudiay, and Chandler has a player option for the 2018-19 season that he could choose to decline, which would save the Hornets even more money. Chandler contributes more on offense than Kidd-Gilchrist, and the Hornets need someone that can be more of a scoring threat than Kidd-Gilchrist currently is.

Mudiay plays best in a lineup where he can drive to the rim and kick the ball out to shooters. With Charlotte, he could find success alongside Malik Monk, Jeremy Lamb and Frank Kaminsky, with one of Marvin Williams or Wilson Chandler in the second unit. They already know things don’t work with Carter-Williams; perhaps Steve Clifford can find a way to teach Mudiay how to defend at a NBA level.