The Charlotte Hornets are looking to cement their status as a playoff team in the Eastern Conference. They are currently 23-20 on the 2021-22 NBA season, as they are right in the thick of the playoff race.
Only 5.5 games separate the Hornets, who are in seventh place, from the 12th place Atlanta Hawks. Charlotte is only five games behind the first-place Chicago Bulls to give an idea of how compressed the standings are.
Things are changing nightly, so if the Hornets want to hold onto a spot in at least the NBA Play-In Game, or push for a spot in the top six, they could be active at the NBA trade deadline. Luckily for them, they have some assets to build a trade package around.
One of the players that they could include in negotiations is rookie James Bouknight. Bouknight, the No. 11 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Connecticut, hasn’t had consistent minutes with the NBA team yet this season but has had some impressive performances in the G League.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Lakers, Hornets Dark-Horse Suitors For Myles Turner To Watch
He is averaging 25 points per game in the G League to go along with 6.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.5 steals in 36.5 minutes. While the Hornets wouldn’t just give him away, if they can upgrade another area of the roster for a playoff push, they might be willing to do so.
One team that could be a potential match in a deal is the Indiana Pacers. What could a deal between the Pacers and Hornets look like that lands Bouknight in Indiana? Let’s take a look at this hypothetical deal.
