Hassan Whiteside (Photo : Getty Images)
The rumors on NBA Free agency continue and the Charlotte Hornets will definitely be part of the conversation.
The upstart team of the Eastern Conference will have four of their starters entering free agency but that will not stop them from being a buyer in the market.
The Hornets are in pursuit of a center even as their incumbent starter Al Jefferson will also enter the market. Since they want more rebounds and rim protection, their ideal options may be Hassan Whiteside and Dwight Howard.
North Carolina sports site Old North Banter has looked in-depth at the Hornets' options at the slot.
Hassan Whiteside will be coveted by many teams and there are teams that would not hesitate to give him the max contract.
"Whiteside's fit in the Clifford defensive system is obvious as he will block the basketball when it goes inside," John Woodcock of ONB said. "He can also finish down low but he would not be the clear offensive threat some of the other players on this list would be. Surround him with enough shooting and that might not matter at all."
While this may seem like what the doctor ordered for the Hornets, they might balk at the cost. A max contract for Whiteside could go beyond $ 20 million and considering they have other free agents they need to sign to remain competitive.
One other caveat is that the Hornets are wary of giving a big payday to a player who was previously underrated. That was the case with Lance Stephenson whom they pried from the Indiana Pacers.
Another target that was also endorsed by another Charlotte team site, At The Hive is Dwight Howard. They note that "Howard's skill set would be ideal for a team lacking interior muscle and rim protection." Also, coach Steve Clifford used to be an assistant to Stan Van Gundy in Orlando when D12 was there.
There are many questions with Howard as he is coming off two unsuccessful stints with two different teams but if the Hornets can work a deal with him while keeping key free agents like Nic Batum, Jeremy Lin, Courtney Lee and Marvin Williams, D12 could be the piece that makes Charlotte a legit contender in the East.
One other free agent center could be considered and that's the veteran Joakim Noah. He played with Batum in the French national team and the Hornets can benefit from his passing/playmaking skills that developed under coach Tom Thibodeau.
Noah could be the dark horse in this search as Whiteside and Howard will hog the spotlight and high profile teams like the LA Lakers and New York Knicks could ignite a bidding war for them. Noah could choose the Hornets as they seem to be the most stable team among those options.
