Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabate has reportedly emerged as a potential trade target for the New York Knicks.
The Charlotte Hornets are set to open up training camp for the 2026-27 NBA season on September 29. Leading up to this season, there is a lot more excitement surrounding the team than in recent years.
Last season, the Hornets ended up with a 44-38 record. That success has fans believing Charlotte could be on the right track as a potential Eastern Conference playoff contender.
During the offseason, the Hornets made quite a few changes. Most notably, they decided to trade star point guard LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster deal. In addition to trading Ball, the team also shipped Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns.
Could Charlotte still be open for business ahead of the regular season?
According to a report from NBA insider Jake Fischer, center Moussa Diabate has become a potential trade candidate. One team to keep a close eye on is the New York Knicks.
Fischer reported that the Knicks have contacted multiple teams about potential center trades. He name-dropped both Diabate and New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi as specific names to watch.
Diabate is coming off of a 2025-26 season with the Hornets that saw him play a key role. He appeared in 73 games and made 47 starts, averaging 7.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and a block per game. Diabate also shot 63.1 percent from the floor.
At 24 years old, Diabate could still be a long-term part of Charlotte's plans. Or, the Hornets could decide to move him for extra future draft capital.
Heading into the upcoming season, Diabate is projected to be the team's backup center. Ahead of him on the depth chart is Hannes Steinbach. Ryan Kalkbrenner is listed as the third center on the roster.
Whether or not Charlotte ends up trading Diabate or not remains to be seen. He certainly has value after the quality season he put together a year ago.
All of that being said, the start of the 2026-27 NBA season is coming up quickly. The Hornets are scheduled to open up their regular season schedule on October 21 on the road against the Brooklyn Nets. They will then return home on October 23 for a matchup against the Atlanta Hawks.
With the excitement surrounding Charlotte, expectations have raised. The Hornets look the part of a team emerging as a potential playoff contender.
Keep an eye on the Diabate rumors as the season moves forward. There is no guarantee that Charlotte is open to trading him, but it sure sounds like New York is interested.
