Does this trade make sense for the Charlotte Hornets?
While Kelly Oubre Jr. has been a steady presence on the wing for the Hornets, this move for Marvin Bagley III could make more sense than first imagined. Bagley is a young, dynamic big man like P.J. Washington who can play many different roles for this team, including being a skilled pick-and-roll big man that could fit in well next to LaMelo Ball.
Between being a low-post threat and someone who can create second-chance opportunities on the offensive glass, Bagley does seem to fit the mold of an athletic and young player the Hornets could add to their young core, but do they really want to invest in him?
The former No. 2 overall pick is in the final year of his contract and will be a restricted free agent in the offseason. If Charlotte wants to keep him long-term, they would have that ability to do so, but they likely would not make this trade unless they were committed to keeping Marvin Bagley long-term.
There are benefits to doing so, but there are also some disadvantages to trading for Bagley. In terms of advantages to Charlotte, Bagley would be another key frontcourt piece that they could rely on with or without P.J. Washington being healthy.
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The Hornets’ frontcourt has been a mess to begin the year and outside of Washington and Plumlee, they really do not have any other reliable factors. For a small price, Bagley could be theirs, but at the same time, he may not want to be a bench player for the Hornets.
One of the main reasons Marvin Bagley III wants out of Sacramento is because they gave up on him as a starter and he felt like he was not valued. If the Hornets put him in a similar role, he could feel the same way about them and not be as big of a contributor as we think he could be.
Plus, if Charlotte agrees to this trade and ends up paying Bagley past this season, then they could eventually run into cap problems with contract extensions for Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball on the horizon.
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The idea of adding another frontcourt player in Charlotte definitely makes sense, but Marvin Bagley III may not be the right target for them.
A veteran like Thaddeus Young could definitely make a little bit more sense, but it will be interesting to see what moves the Hornets look to make ahead of the trade deadline this year since they need a little bit more talent in their frontcourt.
