The Charlotte Hornets are looking to end their nine-year playoff drought, though they may need to make another move to get there.
The Hornets boast a promising core featuring LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges, along with several young options eager to prove themselves, including Kon Knueppel, Sion James, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Liam McNeeley and Tidjane Salaun.
While Charlotte isn’t expected to go on a deep playoff run, the team has the tools to at least make the Play-In Tournament in a relatively wide-open Eastern Conference. If the Hornets find themselves on the verge of a top-six seed, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the team move for an established player in the frontcourt.
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Hornets linked to Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen
Elsewhere in the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers are preparing to bounce back from last season’s conference semifinals exit. However, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey suggested that Cleveland could consider moving one of its big men, naming Jarrett Allen as a “dream” trade target for the Hornets.
“And if the Hornets are way better than expectations, they may be able to talk the Cleveland Cavaliers into a roster-balancing trade that would give them Jarrett Allen and move Evan Mobley to the 5 in Cleveland,” he wrote. “It would surely take some sweeteners from Charlotte’s side, but the Hornets may have enough to get it done.”
The Cavaliers could certainly improve their spacing in the frontcourt, and a solution would be moving Mobley to center on a full-time basis. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year could anchor Cleveland’s defense, while the team would likely target a stretch forward to complement the rising star.
For Charlotte, Kalkbrenner has shown promise early in the season but could come off the bench for Allen. Grant Williams may be a viable option for the Cavaliers at power forward, as he’s a versatile defender and a career 37.7 percent shooter from beyond the arc. While draft capital would likely have to be involved, Allen could be a worthwhile gamble if the Hornets rise above expectations.
