The Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets appear to be engaged in some talks in advance of Thursday’s trade deadline.
The Cavaliers, having lost 12 of their last 16 games, are desperately trying to find a way to stop the bleeding. The Hornets have an incredibly high payroll and are looking to offload contracts for some much-needed financial flexibility for the future.
The two teams seemed primed for a deal with each other, and it may happen, per Jordan Zirm of ESPN Cleveland.
The fact that the two have had conversations isn’t really news. Three days before the deadline, if they’re not talking to every other team in the NBA, some people need to find different professions.
What is significant here is both teams can help each other. The Cavaliers need some new life, and the Hornets need to get rid of some money. Kemba Walker is a player the Hornets have made available, but look for a guy like Nicolas Batum to potentially be moved too.
There are definite snags in any potential deals between these two teams however. The players that the Hornets could offload that teams might want are all under contract for several years and make a lot of money. On Cleveland’s side, it has less of those types of players, but they also have money issues.
It would be great for the Cavaliers to get Batum, for example, but he’s on the second year of a $120 million contract, and Cleveland is already far over the luxury tax. But owner Dan Gilbert has shown that he will spend money in order to keep LeBron James happy. So maybe that’s in play for the Cavaliers.
At this point, anything is possible. Don’t be surprised if teams make interesting decisions as the deadline nears.