3 players Charlotte Hornets should trade for in the 2021 NBA offseason

2. James Wiseman

James Wiseman #33 high-fives Draymond Green #23 in front of Anthony Edwards #1.

James Wiseman could be the center of the future for the Charlotte Hornets.

The Golden State Warriors are reportedly in win-now mode and are supposedly dangling assets to acquire a player or two to help them contend for a championship from next season onwards.

“I’m just so inspired by what Ayton has been able to do. And I think there’s no reason why James (Wiseman) can’t follow that same path.”Steve Kerr hopes James Wiseman can develop into the next Deandre Ayton(via @957thegame) pic.twitter.com/vA9Lf9LGEt

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 17, 2021

Wiseman may not be ready for the pressures of playoff basketball, making him a player who they have very little patience with to develop into a major contributor in the postseason.

The Charlotte Hornets should be the perfect team for Wiseman who can take his time growing into the player that he could be in an environment where he’s surrounded by players closer to his age. In his rookie season, the 20-year-old averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game.

In exchange, the Warriors get P.J. Washington and Terry Rozier aside from a second-round pick, while the Charlotte Hornets also receive Kelly Oubre Jr. in a sign-and-trade to make the numbers work.

Golden State gets a player who has experienced playoff basketball aside from a young player who has scored 20 or more points, including a career-high 42, in 11 of his 61 games in 2020-21.

1. Kristaps Porzingis

Kristaps Porzingis #6 shooting a free throw at American Airlines Center.

To shore up the Charlotte Hornets' center position, one player that they seem to be enamored with is Kristaps Porzingis, whose style of play doesn’t fit well with Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic.

Their unusual pairing this past season, coupled with Porzingis’ injury woes, may have the Mavs brass rethinking their strategy for the next campaign.

.@stephenasmith comments on the "noise" surrounding the Mavs."Some people have accused [Kristaps Porzingis] of being jealous [of Luka Doncic]." pic.twitter.com/wVPgLlfDmZ

— First Take (@FirstTake) July 16, 2021

Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets are salivating at the thought of acquiring a player who was once an All-Star for the Eastern Conference. If they can nab him from the Mavericks, Porzingis would be a huge upgrade at the center position and he could be the missing piece that propels the Hornets to the playoffs.

In 43 games during the regular season, Porzingis averaged 20.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

Who do the Charlotte Hornets give up? To make the salaries work, this will have to be a multi-player deal. Aside from Porzingis, the Hornets also receive Josh Richardson, while the Mavericks receive Terry Rozier, P.J. Washington and Malik Monk in a sign-and-trade.

The trio of players adds to the Mavs’ depth and versatility, and players who will complement Doncic much better.

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