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Trade targets: How can the Hornets become a dangerous East team?

What trades can help the Hornets in the East? Kent Smith/NBAE/Getty Images

Trade targets: All 30 teams


Charlotte Hornets

Record: 27-26
8th place in East


Status: Buyers

Update (Feb.16): The Hornets, Grizzlies and Heat made a trade centered around Courtney Lee. Read the trade grades here.

The Hornets have outpaced expectations and remained in the playoff race all season even though Al Jefferson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist have yet to share the floor this season. Steve Clifford's club played particularly well after Kidd-Gilchrist returned from his shoulder injury, but he reinjured it last week.

What will owner Michael Jordan and GM Rich Cho do at the deadline? The clue may be in the presence of Nicolas Batum on the roster. Acquired from Portland in the last year of his contract for a solid prospect, Noah Vonleh, the message is that team brass wants to get as far as this roster can go.

So what deals would make them an Eastern Conference contender?


Potential trade targets