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3 Centers Hornets Could Trade For Before 2025-26 Deadline

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The Charlotte Hornets are a team that has important questions to answer heading into the 2025-26 season. For many, the focus is face of the franchise LaMelo Ball, who has never reached the playoffs in his injury-riddled career. However, if the Hornets are going to end their postseason drought, it’ll be up to more than Ball. In fact, after an offseason in which they made several moves to upgrade their roster, Charlotte’s x-factor might not even be on the roster.

At least, not yet.

3 Centers Hornets Should Consider Before 2025-26 Trade Deadline

Needing to upgrade at center, there are a few big men that the Hornets should have on their shortlist. Luckily, the 2025-26 trade deadline is four months away, so there’s ample time to get a deal done.

Steven Adams

The Houston Rockets surprised a few people when they signed veteran center Clint Capela this offseason. On the one hand, Rockets breakout star Alperen Sengun has shown the ability to play both power forward and center. As a result, it was feasible that Capela would play consistently, though perhaps not frequently. On the other hand, Sengun is projected to be the team’s starting center, with Steven Adams as his backup. Thus, Capela may get squeezed out of the rotation altogether.

To be clear, Capela’s past his prime and his lack of foot speed can be problematic. However, he’s a seasoned rim-protector and rebounder who can still play above the rim. In fact, his shot-blocking instincts and vertical explosiveness is what differentiates him from Adams. It’s also what makes him a solid pickup for the Charlotte Hornets. Unfortunately for Charlotte, Capela signed with Houston in free agency because he wanted to be on a winning team.

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As a result, the Hornets might be better off pursuing Adams on the trade market, as Capela could quickly become unhappy if the franchise’s losing ways aren’t behind them. Adams definitely wants to win too but he’s the rare player that can be upbeat in any situation. In fact, he’s a player who’d take the Hornets culture to the next level, as he’s beloved in locker rooms.

On the court, Adams isn’t the lob threat that Capela is. Even so, he’s a solid finisher in pick-and-rolls. Perhaps even more importantly, he’s a barrel-chested center whose physical strength is the stuff of legend. The screens he’d set for Charlotte’s perimeter pieces would free up plenty of space. Though he’s not the traditional defensive anchor, he’d also be able to utilize his experience to be an extension of the coach at that end of the floor.

Rudy Gobert

People would never know that Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert is a four-time Defensive Player of the Year the way some of his peers talk about him.

Yet, while it’s true Gobert’s movements when he’s guarding in space can be choppy, the reason he has a negative reputation goes much deeper. It’s in part due to jealousy, especially when the comments come from DPOY hopefuls. It’s also inspired by group think and the mob mentality, with Gobert’s lowlights receiving far more attention than his highlights these days. Last but not least, a lot of people have not forgotten his immature behavior at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even so, Gobert is arguably the perfect pick-up for the Hornets, at least on the court.

Rudy Gobert holds up Defensive Player of the Year Award at NBA Awards presentation
June 24, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert poses with his defensive player of the year awards at the 2019 NBA Awards show at Barker Hanger. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Like Adams, he’s an exceptional screener; a French brick wall. He also isn’t the greatest receiver in pick-and-rolls, though due to his hard hands rather than athletic shortcomings. Yet, Ball throws soft darts in pick-and-roll. Collin Sexton, an improving pick-and-roll operator, often throws lobs so close to the center there’s no way they can’t catch it.

At the defensive end, he’d simply be the solution to their problems. Right now, Charlotte needs a player who can coordinate the defense when he’s on the floor. Gobert not only can be their defensive quarterback, he’ll clean up behind the perimeter players that get beat off the dribble. In fact, because the Hornets aren’t a great switching team, he can regularly play the drop defense that’s more natural to him.

Jarrett Allen

If the Hornets consider Adams and Gobert as options, Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen may be the best of both worlds.

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In terms of likability, which can truly matter on and off the court, Allen is closer to Adams than Gobert. Though he doesn’t possess Adams’s primal appeal, he’s a genuinely good guy whose meek personality that meshes with many of Charlotte’s recent additions. In terms of skill sets, Allen is closer to Gobert. He isn’t as elite of a rim-protector though he’s certainly reliable in this area. In fact, he has no All-Defensive selections to his name but is widely regarded as one of the better defensive centers.

However, he has better hands than Gobert as a pick-and-roll finisher and better mobility when guarding along the perimeter. He’s been developing his connective playmaking, averaging a career-high 2.7 assists per game in 2023-24. He also played along Sexton in 2020-21, when the former Cavs guard averaged a career-high (and team-high) 24.3 points per game.

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