After trading starting center Emeka Okafor to the Wizards on Wednesday, the New Orleans Hornets are more likely now to give serious consideration toward using their No. 10 overall pick in the draft on June 28 to select North Carolina 7-foot center Tyler Zeller, sources confirmed. Although Hornets General Manager Dell Demps won’t say for sure who they will select, their need to obtain a center has increased significantly.

With center Chris Kaman set to become a free agent July 1 and unlikely to re-sign with the Hornets, power forward Jason Smith is the only player on the roster who has played any significant time at center.

The Hornets traded Okafor and forward Trevor Ariza to Washington in exchange for forward Rashard Lewis and the 46th overall pick in the second round of the draft.

via John Reid of The Times Picayune