That said, I don't know whether they screwed up their hopes for this season as badly as people think. One of the Hornets' biggest problems was frontcourt depth, so doing a two-for-one deal actually addresses one of their biggest weaknesses. Additionally, Wilcox is a monster finisher on pick-and-roll plays, and I expect to see him and Chris Paul hook up regularly for some thunderous highlight-reel dunks.
The Hornets should still make the playoffs, but this deal likely does condemn them to a low seeding and a first-round exit. In truth, that's probably where they were headed anyway, and if that's the case, the real cost of this deal won't be until next season, when Smith and Wilcox come off the books and the Hornets will have precious few resources available to conjure up adequate replacements. Grade: C