Good Landing Spot: Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets have a dire need for a starting center. Could Christian Wood be a suitable candidate?
The fit isn’t perfect. Last season, the Hornets had the 9th best Offensive Rating in the NBA (114.94) and the 9th worst Defensive Rating (114.44). Here’s where we tell you that Wood is one of the league’s best offensive big men, and one of its worst on the defensive end.
So, why would the Charlotte Hornets be a fit at all? It’s a fair question. Acquiring Wood would mean leaning into an offensive identity. If this team could jump 4-5 spots in Offensive Rating while stagnating defensively, it would be a formidable club next season.
Wood should allow them to do just that. Furthermore, the Hornets have the 13th and 15th picks in the 2022 Draft. They could easily select one of Jalen Duren or Mark Williams with one of those picks and assemble a quality offense/defense platoon at the 5 spot.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Teams Pursuing Rockets’ Christian Wood In Trade Talks Already
Is that perfect? Probably not. The Charlotte Hornets will likely want to inquire about Myles Turner’s availability this summer. They may pursue one of Mitchell Robinson or Mo Bamba in Restricted Free Agency. If all of those options fail, Wood is still an intriguing fit with this squad.
