Hornets to Make Kelly Oubre Jr, Mason Plumlee Available?

The Hornets have had perhaps the NBA’s most disappointing first half of the season, and they may be looking to shake things up because of it.

Per Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype, that could mean making the likes of starting guard/forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and center Mason Plumlee available ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline.

“I’m keeping an eye on the Hornets. I think they’re going to be sellers. They’ll probably be looking to move some of their veteran guys, like Mason Plumlee and Kelly Oubre, on expiring contracts,” Gozlan noted, via the HoopsHype podcast with Michael Scotto.

Again, it’s been a major struggle for the Hornets after Steve Clifford returned as coach. Some of that certainly has to do with the extended absence of LaMelo Ball who has been sidelined with a sprained ankle — twice. 

Also, they’ve been without rising small forward Miles Bridges all season, and despite an ESPN report, seemingly have no plans to re-sign him as a restricted free agent. And now, Oubre is out, too.

So barring a trade or two and a high draft pick, it’s hard to envision things getting better for the Hornets any time soon.

Oubre, 27, is 6-foot-7 and averaging a career-high 20.2 points on 42 percent shooting, as well as 5.2 rebounds, in 35 games. The torn ligament injury in his left hand is expected to sideline him up until the trade deadline, and perhaps even after.

Plumlee, 32, is 6-11 and averaging 10.6 points and 9.3 rebounds, shooting 64 percent from the field, in 39 games. He is just a 56 percent shooter on free throws, though, and bottomed out at 39 percent in 73 games last season.

Sources: Hornets forward Kelly Oubre Jr. will undergo surgery on a torn ligament in his left hand and miss 4-to-6 weeks. Oubre – averaging a career high 20.2 points – suffered the injury in the first week of the season and has been playing through the pain on his shooting hand.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 3, 2023