After Trading For Miles Plumlee, Will The Hornets Look To Push For Another Player?

With the Hornets trading away big men Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes in exchange for Milwaukee Center Miles Plumlee, could they attempt another trade before the deadline?

The Hornets have struggled recently, losing six straight games and seven of their last ten games, causing them to make a recent trade for Milwaukee big man Miles Plumlee. The hope is for him to provide better rim protection and inside scoring, as the counter-parts in the trade (Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes) had failed to establish a defensive or offensive presence on the inside.

But for an under-performing squad with the still remaining hope of pushing for a playoff spot, this deal will not be the one to get them over the top. Plumlee is a solid rotational player, but not a superstar, or even a starter at that. So, maybe another trade is in the works, as the current roster is certainly not working.

And if the front office is serious about even making the playoffs this year, they need to find an established veteran or young offensive talent to compliment All-Star guard Kemba Walker. This may mean giving away younger talent like forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or center Cody Zeller.

Here are few names that could be potential fits for the Hornets:

J.J. Reddick, G, LA Clippers

As a Tar Heel fan, I hate to say this, but I think Reddick would be a great fit for the Hornets. He is having a great year for the Clippers, shooting 43 percent from the three-point line and is averaging 15.7 points per game. With the Clippers looking to acquire some younger talent and shed some cap space, the Hornets could look to grab him before the deadline.

He would add help out on the wing for a Hornets team struggling to find shooting and defense from their current perimeter players. He would also fit well in the up-tempo offense the Hornets tend to run, as he can still get up and down the court well for a 32 year-old. His lights out shooting and solid perimeter defense would compliment Kemba Walker, creating a deadly back court shooting duo.

Wilson Chandler, F, Denver Nuggets

Despite having a career year in points and rebounds per game, the Nuggets have taken Chandler out of the starting line-up, as they are looking to give their younger talent more playing time. This has caused him to publicly seek a trade, and the Hornets would be a good home for him.

Chandler is a big and long (6'8'', 225 lbs) bodied wing that the Hornets would love to utilize on the perimeter and inside. He is a solid defender and is averaging 15.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this season. He has also been shooting the ball well, hitting 45 percent of his shots from the floor and 34 percent from behind the three-point line this season. He would add an offensive spark with his ability to drive in the lane and hit mid-range shots, taking some of the offensive pressure off of Kemba Walker.

Jahlil Okafor, C, Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers have a crowded front-court and are looking to trade away some of there young talent for veteran players, including last year's number two overall pick, Jahlil Okafor. And the Hornets are in severe need of an athletic, top-end talent in the post after losing center Al Jefferson to the Indiana Pacers in free agency. So, this is potentially a perfect trade match.

Cody Zeller is a solid starter, providing toughness on defense and some versatility when it comes to scoring. But Okafor has the potential to be an All-Star level player on the offensive end, and would become a terrific pick-and-roll partner with Kemba Walker. He is averaging 11.4 points per game and hitting 51 percent of his shots coming off the bench, producing at a solid rate even after receiving a reduced role due to the rise of starter Joel Embiid.

He would flourish in the Hornets system with the ball moving through Walker and him on the offensive end, and he would be able to fine tune his defensive skills working with assistant coach and hall of fame center Patrick Ewing. This would be an overall great fit.

Conclusion

The Hornets need to do something to change things up, adding some more talent to push for the playoffs. But they are running out of time with the deadline coming up in a few weeks. So if the front office is serious, they will seriously consider names like these to bring in veteran presence and/or offensive weapons.