Report: Hornets to acquire Xavier Henry from Memphis

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 10:51 AM CST

Per Marc Stein from ESPN and John Reid from the Times-Picayune, the Hornets are set to acquire second year SG Xavier Henry from Memphis for a future second round draft pick. The deal will also send Marreese Speights to Memphis and land Philadelphia two draft picks.

Henry did not perform well in his rookie season, given ample playing time, though his season was cut in half due to injury. His shooting numbers were terrible last year (41 FG%, 12 3P% (!), 64 FT%), despite being projected as a something of a shooting specialist out of the University of Kansas. Despite the poor performance a year ago, Henry is only 20 years old and still has considerable upside and a prototypical NBA SG build (6'6" 210). He lacks elite athleticism, but has the size and tools to be a good defender. Ultimately, his ability to make an impact for the Hornets (and stick around in the NBA) hinges on whether or not he can regain the shooting form that he showed in college and become a passable offensive threat.

A solid low-risk move for the Hornets to get younger and take a flyer on a former lottery pick. If Marco Belinelli's slump continues or Eric Gordon misses any more time, look for Henry to get his chance sooner rather than later.

UPDATE: Maybe we won't be seeing him too soon, after all. It was announced on Dec. 13 that Henry had torn ligaments in his right ankle and would be out for a month.

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Love It

This move certainly comes out of nowhere but it’s a move the Hornets needed to make. Henry has great size for the SG position and can play SF in some of the team’s smaller lineups, and with Trevor Ariza probably missing some time due to the groin, he comes in and provides immediate depth for the Hornets. In the short term, it gives the Hornets someone other than Belinelli to play the two guard spot when Gordon’s out. I like it.

Considering that Henry is someone I was looking forward to possibly getting in the lottery back in 2010, I’m definitely fine with this move.

"You play to win the game."

by MrWayneKeller on Jan 4, 2012 10:59 AM CST reply actions

I remember a TON of Hornets fans

wanting to pick up Henry. Really strange that a thing that was supposed to be his NBA skill (3pt shooting), was just non-existent for him in half of a rookie season. Hopefully that was a fluke result of his learning curve.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 11:04 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah

I guess his 42% college three figure (just one season though) still takes precedence over 17 attempted threes in the NBA, but obviously not everyone makes the shooting adjustment in the pros.

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:27 PM CST up reply actions

I really don't get it.

One season of college ball is a small sample, but half a year of NBA ball with limited attempts is even smaller. Still, you shouldn’t see THAT much of a disparity.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 12:29 PM CST up reply actions

I also love it

It’s these low-key moves that are key to making a successful rebuild. Definitely giving ourselves a chance at a legitimate rebuild and youth movement. Would like to see much more of this as the season carries on.

I also like Henry as a player. He’s interesting because he doesn’t rely on his athleticism to score points and with a little more polish, his jumpshot can become something very nice for us. Good body for the NBA, too. I give it a solid 10.

"I've been big ever since I was little." - William "The Refrigerator" Perry
Follow me on the twitter machine @zacleto

by 504life on Jan 4, 2012 11:04 AM CST reply actions

This.

It’s these low-key moves that are key to making a successful rebuild. Definitely giving ourselves a chance at a legitimate rebuild and youth movement. Would like to see much more of this as the season carries on.

I think we will. :)

by RedHopeful on Jan 4, 2012 12:56 PM CST up reply actions

Definitely

a future 2nd for a 2010 lotto pick that basically sat out his whole rookie year? Definitely worth it. Now time to see if he can ever get healthy

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 1:13 PM CST up reply actions

Great trade for the Hornets

Not sure how good he’ll become in the NBA, but he’s certainly worth a future 2nd round pick to find out. The guy was the 12th pick in the draft in 2010 and is only 20 years old, so there’s no reason not to pull the trigger here.

The question I keep asking is – why does Philly do this deal? I understand that they didn’t like Speights, but the guy can play, and he’s worth more than two 2nd round picks. Very good deal for us and Memphis, but I just can’t help but think that Philly could have done better for him.

by GeauxHornets on Jan 4, 2012 11:06 AM CST reply actions

I believe Doug Collins

wanted to open up more playing time for rookie Nikola Vucevic. Plus Speights is in the final year of his contract and the Sixers won’t want to overpay for his services.

"I've been big ever since I was little." - William "The Refrigerator" Perry
Follow me on the twitter machine @zacleto

by 504life on Jan 4, 2012 11:09 AM CST up reply actions

Good point

about the final year of his contract. This ensures they get something back for him and is immediate salary relief.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 11:10 AM CST up reply actions

I think he's a RFA next season

So technically not in the last year of his deal.

by GeauxHornets on Jan 4, 2012 12:04 PM CST up reply actions

Pretty sure Philly didn't want him long term

I mean, I would have thought they could do better than 2 second rounders as well, but it’s so tough to read the market these days

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:30 PM CST up reply actions

For what it's worth

He’s declined almost continuously since his rookie season. But I still like the deal a lot for Memphis… always been a Speights fan

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:31 PM CST up reply actions

Not as much as Mason I bet

I’m beginning to think Mason is Speights as ppelico is to Aaron Gray.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 12:32 PM CST up reply actions

I probably was at some point

But I’ve been talked down it quite a bit by people that watch Philly a lot more than I do

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:33 PM CST up reply actions

Like

I think his rookie season will be his peak, statistically. But even the current version of him is worth more than 2 second rounders… it’s just that nobody probably would pay above that, I’d imagine.

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:34 PM CST up reply actions

I wonder if ppelico

Is extolling the virtues of Aaron Gray on some poor, unsuspecting Raptors blog out there.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 12:35 PM CST up reply actions

Per his user page...

http://www.sbnation.com/users/ppellico

Yes! hahaha

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:41 PM CST up reply actions

Awesome

"You play to win the game."

by MrWayneKeller on Jan 4, 2012 12:43 PM CST up reply actions

That is so insane

I have never seen someone so infatuated with such a pedestrian NBA player. It’s admirable….and a little creepy.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 12:45 PM CST up reply actions

Look up chapu4you

all he posted was about Andres Nocioni.

"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent"- Qui-Gon Jinn

by tomkanti on Jan 4, 2012 5:35 PM CST up reply actions

This is awesome.

Trolling for the Big Gray Monster… gotta love it.

by GeauxHornets on Jan 4, 2012 12:46 PM CST up reply actions

"This team will never win with Bargnani"

“Need to start Gray and play him 40+ minutes a game!’

I imagine it would look something like that with no capital letters and much worse punctuation.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 12:47 PM CST up reply actions

Don't forget

to hit return after every sentence. Each new sentence must start on a new line.

by GeauxHornets on Jan 4, 2012 12:59 PM CST up reply actions

haha

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here! I just thought he was worth more than two 2nd rounders, not our next five 1st rounders.

by GeauxHornets on Jan 4, 2012 12:45 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah I take it back totally.

Especially after seeing ppellico has already left 100+ comments on the raptor blog. Amazing.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 12:46 PM CST up reply actions

What if

ppelico is actually Aaron Gray? Okay, probably not, but is it out of the realm of possibility that it’s a family member or something?

by GeauxHornets on Jan 4, 2012 12:49 PM CST up reply actions

I think we had this discussion with him last season actually haha

He was like a life-long Bulls fan that met (I think) Gray while he was playing at Pitt and started following him

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:51 PM CST up reply actions

hahaha

Man, I was so happy for him when Gray had that dunk on the Lakers.

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:46 PM CST up reply actions

I have to imagine he's been on the block for awhile

Maybe there just wasn’t much interest. Grizz look to be desperate now due to the Arthur-Mayo injuries.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 12:31 PM CST up reply actions

Great move...

Continue to get younger, and yes a guy who was highly touted coming out of college. I believe he can regain form, and maybe not become a star, but certainly a glue guy who can help out tremendously.

by aburton531 on Jan 4, 2012 11:09 AM CST reply actions

I like Belli but hes been atrocious

im glad Demps made a move, i read somewhere that he was injured though, is there any true to that?

by Taquito on Jan 4, 2012 11:15 AM CST reply actions

I just updated

He has torn ligaments in his ankle and if initial reports were correct, will be out another 10 or so days.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

oh goddammit

i guess that means..more Trey Johnson?

by Taquito on Jan 4, 2012 11:53 AM CST up reply actions

Bah

This is the big problem with Henry I guess. His injury history has just been nuts

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:32 PM CST up reply actions

Those cannot all be separate knee injuries

Had to be something nagging right?

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 12:34 PM CST up reply actions

Has to be

Looks like it was always that right knee

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:36 PM CST up reply actions

Definitely Explains

Why he came so cheap.

"You play to win the game."

by MrWayneKeller on Jan 4, 2012 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

Let's hope

he’s one of those players who needs his body to fully mature. Plenty of guys have entered this league riddled with injuries but once they overcome the injury nexus, they go on and stay relatively healthy.

by RedHopeful on Jan 4, 2012 1:06 PM CST up reply actions

Weird thing.

Henry became expendable with Mayo and Pondexter off the bench. Yes, our former Quincy Pondexter who has been pretty good so far. Much better than expected. I still believe he will be a better player than Greivis and is currently better than Aminu.

by Hornets78 on Jan 4, 2012 12:08 PM CST reply actions

Meh

We’ll see I guess. I still like that trade

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:36 PM CST up reply actions

Pondexter's upside

was pretty limited. The same is true for Grevis, but he is at a position of need for this roster. Trading him for Quincy gave us a decent backup PG and cleared minutes to see if Aminu can develop into anything. I’m a fan.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 12:41 PM CST up reply actions

Greivis will get benched soon if he doesn't improve.

He’s making too many mistakes. He’s been pretty awful so far. Wouldn’t surprise me if Monty goes with Trey soon. He doesn’t make nearly as much mistakes.

by Hornets78 on Jan 4, 2012 1:18 PM CST up reply actions

Greivis has had his good games and his bad games

The fact is, he still looks to set up teammates with more consistency than anyone else.

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 1:21 PM CST up reply actions

As the only other PG besides Jack on the roster

I think Grevis is pretty safe. I doubt we’ll ever see either of the Johnsons except in garbage time once this team is semi-healthy.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 1:36 PM CST up reply actions

Not that 2nd rnd picks a all that important...

but will we ever pick in the 2nd rnd again?!?! Ha!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qais_eGMnWk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39GH-nzrY_I&feature=relatde

by tlsk1066 on Jan 4, 2012 12:24 PM CST reply actions

2nd round picks are actually almost worthless

so anytime you can trade one for lottery-type talent, even if he has under-performed, is a good move. I’m sure at some point we will pick again in the second round (and hopefully find a new Buckets).

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 12:28 PM CST up reply actions

yeah, I know...

and agree, was just being a little sarcastic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qais_eGMnWk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39GH-nzrY_I&feature=relatde

by tlsk1066 on Jan 4, 2012 1:51 PM CST up reply actions

the last time we picked a good player in the second draft was 2005

that was Brandon Bass, and before that the best player picked in the 2nd round was George Lynch, yes, that George Lynch, so im okay if we never pick in the 2nd round again haha

by Taquito on Jan 4, 2012 12:29 PM CST up reply actions

Marcus Thornton

That is all.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 12:30 PM CST up reply actions

the Heat picked him though

we traded for him, he wasnt a Hornets pick so my comment stays!

by Taquito on Jan 4, 2012 12:37 PM CST up reply actions

Haha

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

They picked him for the Hornets!

They’ve already said they would not have picked him if not for the trade. Though on paper, I guess you’re right.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 12:41 PM CST up reply actions

True but

It’s also so easy to trade back into the second round if you see a guy you really want to take (ie Thornton)

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:37 PM CST up reply actions

Hornets picked up a few 2nd rounders

Shedding debt a few years ago. I imagine thats what the hornets will use in this trade. The picks were in 2013 and 2014 if I remember correctly.

by njennings on Jan 4, 2012 12:30 PM CST via Android app reply actions

Per RealGM

(link here: http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed)

We own a 2016 pick from the Clippers, a 2016 pick from the Kings

and we owe a 2012 pick to Cleveland (lost in the Thornton deal, Miami moved to CLE for LBJ), a 2014 pick to Minnesota (can’t remember who we traded there..), and a 2015 to the Clippers

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:40 PM CST up reply actions

There might be more that's not listed there though

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 12:40 PM CST up reply actions

Hey folks

I lurk around here every now and then, is EJ going to play tonight??

"You don't need to be an Adonis to be a good pro player...
…but Lee looks like he’s lived in zero gravity his whole life"
-the Bimbo Coles Experience

by Duby Dub Dubs on Jan 4, 2012 12:31 PM CST reply actions

He's questionable

They’re saying 50-50 for now.

by Will H. on Jan 4, 2012 12:33 PM CST up reply actions

thanks

Bummer though, NBA TV is only free for a few more days and I was hoping to get a look at the new squad

"You don't need to be an Adonis to be a good pro player...
…but Lee looks like he’s lived in zero gravity his whole life"
-the Bimbo Coles Experience

by Duby Dub Dubs on Jan 4, 2012 12:45 PM CST up reply actions

With the summer’s rookie-scale scandal behind Henry, it’s now time to figure out what he has to offer on the
court. He enters the NBA with a reputation as a deadeye shooter, but could be lost in a wing player logjam that
includes O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, DeMarre Carroll and Tony Allen. What Henry has going for him is that, un-like Gay, Mayo and Mike Conley, he functioned at Kansas as an off-the-ball player. He didn’t shoot lights-out during his lone season at KU, but he had his moments and could emerge as a prime option on kick-outs.

Henry has the athleticism to be an effective wing defender, and if he adapts quickly at the defensive end, he
could earn significant minutes as a rookie. He’s got the versatility to play either wing position and will be a
good fit when playing alongside any combination of Conley, Mayo or Gay because he is a threat without the
ball in his hands.

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 1:52 PM CST reply actions

And highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpzobcvAm90&feature=related

by Rohan on Jan 4, 2012 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

I Totally Forgot

About his hold out in his rookie year. Let’s hope he manages to stay healthy. He has good tools but the Hornets can’t make anything of those if he’s on the injured list.

"You play to win the game."

by MrWayneKeller on Jan 4, 2012 2:19 PM CST up reply actions