Trade Deadline Synopsis
Here's a quick summary of what the Hornets are getting from the incoming players
At 2:55 pm yesterday, Darian and I went live on X Spaces to chat about some of the potential rumors surrounding the Hornets. It took only a minute before we started receiving notifications on our phones about a deal. Charlotte had landed Coby White from Chicago, and we had to shift from hypothetical blather to concrete thoughts.
Heading into the week, I wasn’t expecting the team to make any major deals, potentially joining as a third team to amass more draft picks. However, that wasn’t the case. Jeff Peterson and crew were much more active than I anticipated, signaling this organization’s belief that they can be a factor in the NBA’s Play-in tournament.1
The Trades
Charlotte Receives: Ousmane Dieng and a second-round pick
Oklahoma City Receives: Mason Plumlee
Charlotte Receives: Tyus Jones and two second-round picks 2
Orlando Receives: Cash considerations
Charlotte Receives: Mike Conley3 and Coby White
Chicago Receives: Ousmane Dieng, Collin Sexton and three second-round picks
Charlotte Receives: Malaki Branham
Dallas Receives: Tyus Jones
Charlotte Receives: Xavier Tillman Sr., $3.5 million
Boston Receives: 2030 second-round pick (Top-55 protected)
While you can’t discount the financial motivations in trades, I’m here to break down the players and what they can offer on the court.4
On-Court Profiles
Coby White (25 years old)
Coby White shares some similarities with Collin Sexton, but Jeff Peterson saw enough of an upgrade to pursue him actively. White is a score-first guard that should fit seamlessly into what the Hornets are trying accomplish on the offensive end. Just imagine Knueppel setting a screen for White, and the defense having to pick their poison.
Presumably, White will be tasked with operating Charlotte’s second unit. Sion James has had a fine rookie season, but being responsible for coordinating an offense isn’t in his skill set (as of today). While not a traditional point guard, White has some understated playmaking ability. His driving ability and the ease with which he can get by his defender will go a long way in drawing in the defense — White averages 13.2 drives per game, a number that would be first on Charlotte.
White displays a good combination of body strength, speed, and deceleration, aiding him in his success around the rim. He’s shown a knack for drawing fouls, registering a shooting foul percentage of 14.7% and 11.0% in the last two seasons, respectively.
He has also been a relatively effective shooter from beyond the arc, typically shooting in the mid- to upper-30s from distance. He’s best used as a spot-up shooter, which gives him the flexibility to play with LaMelo and other ball-handlers, something the Hornets have plenty of.
Defensively, he’s not going to create a ton of events, and there will be times when he needs to be hidden. Like Sexton, his defensive impact will always be an area for improvement. An underrated aspect of his game is his ability to snag defensive rebounds. For a Hornets’ defense that has done a tremendous job of holding opponents to one shot, he should fit right in.
