Hornets trade deadline rumor roundup

The Charlotte Hornets have been linked to a number of players as we approach Thursday’s trade deadline, though nothing sounds imminent at the time of this writing. Let’s take a look at the rumors floating around out there.

As of last week, the Dallas Mavericks had been in exploratory conversations with the Hornets about a trade for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Kidd-Gilchrist has barely seen the floor this season and his contract expires this summer, so it’d be a savvy move if the Hornets could land a second round pick or two to send him out.

The Hornets are forever linked with Andre Drummond. This rumor has never been expanded upon. All we ever here is that the Hornets are one of several teams ‘interested’ in the Detroit Pistons center. I don’t know how a trade for Drummond would make sense right now. He’s likely going to opt out into free agency this summer, and the Hornets will have the cap space to sign him if they really want to add him to the roster.

Going with lightly supported rumors—the Hornets have also been linked to Bogdan Bogdanovic. According to Zach Lowe, the Hornets ‘have expressed interest’ in the wing, but there’s been nothing more substantive than that.

The big rumor around the Hornets are trade talks with the New York Knicks centered around Malik Monk, Terry Rozier, Julius Randle, and Dennis Smith Jr. There are varying reports over the weight of those conversations. Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports called the discussions ‘serious,’ while Hornets beat reporter Rod Boone reports that there was little if any traction in the discussions.

The trade deadline is at 3:00 EST on Thursday.