The Charlotte Hornets are right in the thick of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. After being bounced out of the first game of the NBA Play-In Tournament last season, they are currently in a position to host the play-in games.
Charlotte is sitting in the seventh spot in the conference with a record of 26-21. They are only four games behind the No. 1 seeded Miami Heat and 4.5 games ahead of the 12th seeded Atlanta Hawks, so there is plenty of work to do.
The standings are shifting constantly, but the Hornets have to feel good about where they are. They have an elite offense carrying them, making up for a very weak defense.
If they can just improve to a below-average defense and rank near 20th instead of being near the very bottom, it would greatly improve their chances of not only making the playoffs but potentially doing some damage.
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Given the current state of the franchise, they are expected to be one of the more active teams ahead of the deadline. They are clear buyers and will be looking to cement their status as a playoff team in the Eastern Conference.
Luckily for them, they do have some assets that they can move to get a deal done. One player that could be available ahead of the deadline is PJ Washington. According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Washington could be the odd man out in Charlotte.
The Hornets are facing a similar roster crunch this summer, and it appears P.J. Washington is a trade possibility for Charlotte. The Hornets, whose books are quickly approaching the tax, have some cap maneuvering ahead of them with Miles Bridges and Cody Martin’s expiring contracts.
The writing has been on the wall for PJ Washington since the beginning of the season. He started the campaign injured, which provided Miles Bridges with a chance to start and he took full advantage. Bridges is now in line for a massive contract this offseason.
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There are plenty of teams that would take Washington. He has come a long way as a defender and is a legitimate floor spacer in the frontcourt. He can play either power forward or center, providing whichever team acquires him some versatility.
If the Hornets are looking to slash some salary, PJ Washington is a good starter as a sweetener. James Bouknight and Kai Jones were first-round picks in the 2021 NBA Draft that could be included as well as neither have a path to consistent minutes right now.
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The Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner, should he prove to be healthy, would be a good target. Christian Wood of the Houston Rockets is another player that the Charlotte Hornets could have their eye on. Mo Bamba, who is breaking out with the Orlando Magic and in line for a nice-sized deal himself this offseason, is another option.
