Could the Charlotte Hornets make a splash?
The 2026 NBA trade deadline is almost here and the Charlotte Hornets are the hottest team in the league.
Because they are playing so well, the Hornets aren't under pressure to make a trade.
However, NBA analyst Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report believes Charlotte is a trade landing spot for Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford.
A talented lob threat, Gafford is averaging 8.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game this season while shooting 63.1% from the field. He's making $14.4 million.
The Mavericks are exploring Gafford trades, according to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Gafford has been on the Mavericks since Feburary 2024.
Gafford has played for the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards and Mavericks. He has career averages of 9.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. The 27-year-old would be a great fit alongside LaMelo Ball since Gafford is an elite rim runner and Ball is one of the best passers in the game.
The Hornets are only one game back of the Chicago Bulls for the 10th spot in the East. Seed 7-10 make the NBA play-in tournament. Charlotte should be a buyer at this year's trade deadline and acquire more talent around Ball, Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel.
Under head coach Charles Lee, the Hornets are 17th in the NBA in points per game, 11th in points per game allowed, eighth in offensive rating, 18th in defensive rating and 13th in net rating.
Charlotte went 11-6 in the month of January, totaling the most wins in the Eastern Conference. The Hornets ranked first in the NBA in net rating (11.5) and offensive rating (121.1) and fifth in defensive rating (109.6).
Lee was the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for January. He became the fourth Hornets head coach in franchise history to win Coach of the Month and is the first since Steve Clifford won the award in March of the 2015-16 season.
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