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NBA Trade Deadline 2020: The 30-team mega-deal that solves nothing and makes everyone mad

By Ian Levy

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 13: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Collin Sexton #2 high five during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 13, 2020 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 13: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Collin Sexton #2 high five during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 13, 2020 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – JANUARY 22: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons prepares to take the floor for the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 22, 2020 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – JANUARY 22: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons prepares to take the floor for the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 22, 2020 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Charlotte Hornets

Sending out: Bismack Biyombo (CLE), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (DET), 2020 first-round pick (IND), Cleveland’s 2020 second-round pick (DEN)

Bringing in: Andre Drummond (DET), Juan Hernangomez (DEN), Romeo Langford (BOS)

I can already see your eyes rolling as the picture of Andre Drummond loaded. I know the Hornets have a shaky history of overpaying for second-tier (or third) talent in a misguided quest to stay competitive. Here, they’re giving up their own first-round pick this year and a very high-value second-round pick to take on an expensive and deeply flawed center and two other young players who may or may not ever be meaningful contributors.

BUT…It’s different this time!

The Hornets are within striking distance of a playoff spot and this 30-team trade effectively removes Detroit (and probably Chicago and Washington) from the competition for that spot. If they make the playoffs, that first-round pick they’re sending to Indiana is outside the lottery. The Hornets do not have a franchise-changing star on this roster but they do have the makings of a nice young core who could be competitive while they wait to find that player, instead of bottoming out and trying to land them at the top of the draft.

Devonte’ Graham, Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges and P.J. Washington are all 25-or-younger and fun players with potential. Malik Monk is 21 and has finally found a way to be useful. Drummond’s salary is large but he only has one more year on his deal. Marvin Williams is coming off the books this summer and Nicolas Batum will next year — the Hornets aren’t sacrificing long-term flexibility. They’re just gambling that the developmental value of pairing Drummond and their young guards in a quest for competitiveness will be worth more than whatever player they land with a mid-first-round pick in this year’s draft.

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