The Charlotte Hornets made one move yesterday by trading for Courtney Lee in a three team deal involving the Memphis Grizzlies and the Miami Heat.
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Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s season-ending injury pushed Hornets management to get a quality shooting guard in Lee. Subsequently, the Hornets have been in the market to add a wing at the 2016 NBA Trade Deadline and reportedly have done so in Courtney Lee as part of a three-team trade. Hairston and a few second-round draft picks. In so doing, Miami will also net an additional $5+ million in savings thanks to a reduced luxury tax burden (the Heat are subject to repeater taxes) and pull itself that much closer to avoiding paying luxury taxes at all this season.
Andersen gives them a veteran center to help get them through Marc Gasol’s absence, and the money clears up space for this summer not only for Mike Conley, but to add pieces if they want to get bold. It gives them options, while helping them reach the postseason now.
That’s certainly a bit of a hefty price to pay for Lee if you’re the Hornets, but it also fills an immediate need in a number of areas. The buddy cop combination of Birdman and Tony Allen is through the roof.
Hairston (6-6, 230) owns career averages of 5.8 points (.341 FG/.833 FT) and 2.4 rebounds in 17.5 minutes in 93 games (45 starts) in two seasons with Charlotte. With Michael Kidd-Gilchrist officially out for the season as he needs surgery to fix a torn labrum, Nicolas Batum will be required to guard their opposition’s small forward due to his size with Lee manning up on the opposition shooting guards, according to ESPN Insider. This move, then, boils down to whether Lee can make a meaningful impact down the stretch and, if so, whether Hornets GM Rich Cho can find a way to retain him at a reasonable number in July.
Although Lee will be a free agent in the off-season, Memphis was positioned well in its playoff push. He’s making 37 percent of his shots from outside the 3-point arc this season. Andersen has missed most of the season with knee issues, and the Grizzlies will be restricted in what they can offer Hairston in free agency. They can absorb more money in trades, and now have multiple second-rounders to sweeten the deal.
The shoulder injury to Tyler Johnson created a void for a third point guard.
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Courtney Lee is heading to Charlotte.
