The Knicks still have a center problem, and the Hornets may have given them another reason to keep Charlotte on speed dial.
New York’s interest in Moussa Diabate never really went away, even after an earlier push didn’t lead anywhere. Now, after Hannes Steinbach turned heads in Summer League, the Hornets suddenly look like a team with more frontcourt pieces than clean answers.
Steinbach, the No. 14 pick in last month’s draft, put together a strong run in five Summer League games. He averaged 15.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists, and his best night came against the Bucks, when he went off for 27 points and 15 rebounds. At 6-foot-11, he showed real force around the basket, even if perimeter switches exposed him at times.
That kind of performance can change the way a team views its roster balance. Charlotte is a young group, and having too many capable bigs can quickly turn into a roster crunch. If the Hornets believe in Steinbach, Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner, there’s a case for moving one of them to add draft capital or help elsewhere.
Diabate is the name that keeps coming up. He is eligible to sign an extension two days before next year’s trade deadline, and given his market and current production, he could wind up in a deal similar to the four-year $56 million contract Neemis Queta recently signed. Charlotte, just over a month removed from trading away franchise star LaMelo Ball, has been working toward cleaner salary books as part of what it believes is a more sustainable path forward.
That’s why a move involving Diabate and a return like Deuce McBride and possibly picks makes sense on paper. The problem for the Knicks is that the Hornets may not see it that way. They could view Diabate as a key part of their future and have no interest in moving him.
Even if Charlotte did listen, New York would still be fighting an uphill battle. The entire league knows the Knicks are hunting for another big man, which means any rival offer could easily beat what they can put on the table. So yes, it’s a long shot.
Still, the NBA has a way of surprising people. The Hornets have already been part of one unexpected summer deal, and Leon Rose has made a habit of pulling off trades that come out of nowhere, including the OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns deals.
With Steinbach making his presence felt earlier than some expected, the Knicks have enough reason to keep pressing. They should do their due diligence and leave no option unexplored.
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