Hornets trade Mason Plumlee to Clippers for Reggie Jackson

Hornets center Mason Plumlee is averaging 12.2 ppg and 9.7 rpg this season.

The Charlotte Hornets are dealing veteran center Mason Plumlee to the LA Clippers, per multiple reports. In the swap, the Hornets will receive veteran guard Reggie Jackson from the Clippers, who likely became expendable after the Clippers agreed to another reported deal earlier in the day.

Additionally, the Clippers are sending a 2028 second-round pick to the Hornets in the trade, per Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times.

Clippers receive: 

Hornets receive: 

The Clippers were plenty active on trade deadline day, acquiring Plumlee as well as Eric Gordon (from the Houston Rockets) and Bones Hyland (from the Denver Nuggets). Overall, LA is hoping it has the depth and versatility in its lineup now to close the gap on the rest of the Western Conference. At 31-27, the Clippers are No. 6 in the conference, just one game ahead of the No. 7-seeded New Orleans Pelicans — and just four games behind the No. 2-seeded Memphis Grizzlies.

Plumlee has been a standout for the Hornets in what has been an otherwise forgettable season for Charlotte. He is averaging 12.2 ppg, 9.7 rpg and 3.7 apg, but remains a traditional post player as he has not made a 3-pointer this season. He will slot in behind starting Clippers center Ivaca Zubac and provide needed length and depth to a frontline in need of it.

The 32-year-old Jackson is averaging 10.9 points and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 42% from the field and 35% from 3-point range. That’s a dropoff from the 16.8 points and 4.8 assists the 12-year NBA veteran averaged last season. Shams Charania of The Athletic reports Jackson is likely to agree to a contract buyout and hit the open market in free agency.

The moves allows Hornets coach Steve Clifford to focus on building around young centers Mark Williams and Nick Richards, both of whom have shown promise when they’ve played.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.