Pelica Debrief
Fansided

Mock Draft With Trades: The New Orleans Pelicans Move Up

By Aaron Kellerstrass

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Devin Vassell #24 of the Florida State Seminoles could be a nice fit on the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Devin Vassell #24 of the Florida State Seminoles could be a nice fit on the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 15
Next
2020 NBA Draft, New Orleans Pelicans
PORTLAND, OREGON – NOVEMBER 12: James Wiseman #32 (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

2020 NBA Mock Draft with Trades: #3-Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte Hornets. James Wiseman. 3. 170. Pick Analysis. Scouting Report. Center. player

The Hornets jumped up in the draft, which was their Karmic reward for not tanking. Charlotte isn’t far away from being a contender in the East, as they have a trio of good young players in Devonte’ Graham, P.J. Washington and Miles Bridges.

They don’t have much in the way of big man talent, so adding Wiseman to what they already have makes a whole lot of sense and might vault the Hornets into the playoffs.

Bismack Biyombo is a free agent and there is no way they want to re-sign him, and Charlotte’s big contracts are ones that no one would want to trade for unless Charlotte gave back assets.

Nicolas Batum, Terry Rozier and Cody Zeller will be making a combined $60 million next season (YIKES) but after that Zeller is off the books and the Hornets will have some cap space to play around with.

I am sure Charlotte would love to orchestrate a trade to rid themselves of one of their three awful contracts, but good luck with that. Instead, they can just add talent, wait for their contracts to run out and have a really nice young core that might attract a free agent.