Trade targets: All 30 teams
Charlotte Hornets
Record: 27-26
8th place in East
Status: Buyers
Update (Feb.16): The Hornets, Grizzlies and Heat made a trade centered around Courtney Lee. Read the trade grades here.
The Hornets have outpaced expectations and remained in the playoff race all season even though Al Jefferson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist have yet to share the floor this season. Steve Clifford's club played particularly well after Kidd-Gilchrist returned from his shoulder injury, but he reinjured it last week.
What will owner Michael Jordan and GM Rich Cho do at the deadline? The clue may be in the presence of Nicolas Batum on the roster. Acquired from Portland in the last year of his contract for a solid prospect, Noah Vonleh, the message is that team brass wants to get as far as this roster can go.
So what deals would make them an Eastern Conference contender?
Potential trade targets
Blake Griffin
With Griffin apparently on the market, Charlotte is a solid fit.
The Clippers, in an effort to make an immediate push, could take on Jefferson, Marvin Williams and Frank Kaminsky as the basis for a deal, along with draft picks to help L.A. make additional trades.
Kyle Korver
With the possibility looming that Atlanta wants to go young, a team that needs shooting -- such as Charlotte -- could reap huge rewards by pouncing on Korver. The Hornets could dangle a draft pick while packaging some deep reserves to make the salaries work.
Most trade value
1. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Kidd-Gilchrist begins the first year of the four-year, $52 million extension to his rookie contract in 2016-17. That's a fair price for a 22-year-old elite defender whose offensive game is -- as Marv Albert says -- showing signs.
Unfortunately a series of injuries has hurt Kidd-Gilchrist's value to both the Hornets and any potential trade partner.
2. Nicolas Batum
Batum has really come into his own as a featured player in Charlotte, though his numbers suffered some from an injury-related malaise. As a classic two-way wing who can also be a complementary playmaker, Batum is headed for a big payday as an unrestricted free agent.
3. Kemba Walker
At 25, Walker is having a borderline All-Star season and is the unquestioned leader of the Hornets. His $12 million price tag is team-friendly. While Walker's plus-0.18 defensive real plus-minus (RPM) is solid for his position, his inconsistent jumper is a limiting factor for a shoot-first lead guard.
4. Frank Kaminsky
Kaminsky doesn't have a huge ceiling, but he has shown the valuable mix of skills expected of him coming out of Wisconsin. Under team control for three more years, Kaminsky will be a great bargain in a couple of years.
5. Cody Zeller
Zeller has been slow to make a difference in the NBA and even now, his contributions are largely intangible. Bottom line is he's a high lottery pick with another year left on his rookie deal and leads the Hornets in defensive RPM. Charlotte has been consistently better with Zeller on the floor.
6. Marvin Williams
Williams' contract is expiring but if the Hornets are in dealing mode, he's a perfect rent-a-player candidate who can play both forward positions. He's shooting well from deep this season and leads Charlotte in RPM, with positive contributions on both offense and defense. At 29, Williams has reached "proven veteran" status.
7. Jeremy Lamb
Lamb begins a three-year, $21 million extension next season. If he improves as much next season as he did this season, that will be a steal of a deal.
8. Jeremy Lin
Lin certainly has a team-friendly price tag but is still not an ideal third guard because of his up-and-down long-range shooting. Plus his defense (minus-.74 defensive RPM) makes him a limited play for a contending team.
Most valuable draft pick
2016 first-rounder
ESPN's Basketball Power Index (BPI) gives Charlotte's first-round pick this June about a 1 percent shot at landing in the top three. Given the generally upward trend of the Hornets, this might be as good as a pick of theirs gets for the next couple of years.
Toughest contract to trade
Al Jefferson
When healthy, Jefferson is a proven post player and rebounder who could be a valuable bench contributor for a contender. His knee surgery and his $13 million expiring deal means he's likely more valuable to the Hornets than anything they could get by trading him.