The trade deadline approaches. In 5 weeks and 2 days (February 19th) the Hornets have to decide if they roll the dice and make a big deal, or sit still and hope that the Hornets team that beat the Lakers in Los Angeles is the team that shows up in the playoffs.
That is a big maybe. And, if the Hornets do make a big deal, center Tyson Chandler would likely be in it. Who else could the Hornets trade? Peja Stojakovic earns $10.9 million this season, with the price escalating for 2 more years. Chris Paul? Forget it. David West? Unlikely, considering that West is the only low post scoring the Hornets have. Not only is West an outstanding player, but: his contract numbers go down over the final three years of his deal. In other words, the Hornets are getting David West in his prime for a very good price. That leaves only Tyson Chandler as the real trade bait that could allow the Hornets to somehow pick up another outstanding player.
Trading Chandler would be a huge risk. Centers are very hard to find. And, would you trade the only true rebounder on a team that ranks 28th in rebounding out of 30 teams? Chandler averages 8.0 rebounds per game, David West 7.5. If Chandler goes, who guards Tim Duncan, Yao Ming, or Andrew Bynum in the playoffs?
Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower is a low key guy, but he's not afraid to make deals. The Hornets spent big in free agency on Peja, picked up Tyson Chandler in a trade from Chicago, and made a deal for Bonzi Wells from Houston last year at the deadline.
Bower isn't afraid to make deals, but if he deals Chandler he is taking a giant risk.
Sometimes the best deals are the ones you don't make.