The Charlotte Hornets were quietly disappointing in the 2021-22 NBA season. They finished with the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference and got demolished by the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in tournament.

There’s still plenty of reason to keep the buzz alive in Buzz City. This franchise has a north star in LaMelo Ball. The gifted young point guard is the envy of many rebuilding clubs across the NBA. They also have a solid supporting cast with Miles Bridges (assuming they retain him), P.J. Washington, and more on the roster.

What they don’t have is a starting-caliber center. Mason Plumlee is a solid rotational player, but he’s probably best suited for a reserve role. The same goes for Montrezl Harrell. The Hornets need a high-end rim protector if they hope to enter next year’s postseason dance.

That won’t necessarily be an easy thing to find. Rim protection is always in demand in the National Basketball Association.

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Luckily, the Hornets are equipped with plenty of moveable contracts and intriguing young players. If they hunt hard enough, they should find a center that takes them to the next level.

Here are 3 deals that satisfy that need for this club.