Hornets’ General Manager Rich Cho knows that if the Hornets are going to make it back to the NBA Playoffs and past the 1st round, changes to the roster would have to be made. They started with the trading of Lance Stephenson to the Clippers last week for Matt Barnes and Spencer Hawes. It continued last night when they dealt Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh to the Portland Trailblazers for Nicolas Batum.
It's done. Blazers confirm they have acquired Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh from Hornets for Nicolas Batum.
— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) June 25, 2015
I am told the @hornets will also end up with Jeremy Lamb in a separate deal involving Matt Barnes' contract. Barnes isn't going to OKC.
— Rick Bonnell (@rick_bonnell) June 24, 2015
Welcome to #BuzzCity, @nicolas88batum! ???? pic.twitter.com/9U57lZXZP4
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) June 25, 2015
Cho said he was excited about Batum’s three-point shooting ability, a weakness of the Hornets last season.
We’re really excited to acquire Nicolas Batum form Portland. He provides a lot of things to our team that we’re excited about. He provides a 3-point shooting threat. He’s a career 36 percent shooter behind the arc. He’s a good defender and can guard multiple positions. He’s only 26 years old and he’s been in the NBA for seven seasons, so he gives us experience, yet he is still in his prime. We’re really excited to have him. He’s going to be a great addition to this team and I know the coaching staff is excited to have him. I’d like to thank Gerald [Henderson] and Noah [Vonleh] for all their hard work and professionalism here. We wish them the best in Portland.
There are reports that yesterday’s deals opens the door for the Hornets to draft Wisconsin big man Frank Kaminsky.
It’s good to see Charlotte making moves, even if I’m not completely sold that they will make the squad better. There are a lot of question marks surrounding today’s draft. It will be VERY interesting to see how it all plays out.