Could the Hornets enter the Kevin Durant sweepstakes?

The NBA world was shocked on Thursday afternoon when reports came out that Kevin Durant had requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. Coming off yet another All-Star season and with four years remaining on his contract, Durant is arguably the most valuable asset to ever hit the trade market. While the Phoenix Suns and the Miami Heat are the known teams on Durant’s list of preferred destinations, it will be in the Nets’ best interest to do business with whichever franchise can give them the best deal in return. All of that begs the question; could the Charlotte Hornets enter the Kevin Durant sweepstakes?

Durant is currently the fifth-highest paid player in the league, meaning that Charlotte would need to send back a hefty amount of salary in order to comply with the NBA’s salary matching rules. In this case, the Hornets would be able to take back 125% of the outgoing salary plus $100,000 since the aggregate outgoing salaries from Charlotte would be above $19.6 million.

Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier are the two highest salaries on the Hornets’ books at a combined $51.5 million. Due to the aforementioned salary matching rules, Brooklyn could take both Hayward and Rozier’s contracts back. It is unlikely that the Nets view either as a long-term building block, but they are serviceable players nonetheless. Hayward has struggled to stay healthy in the past several seasons but does have the benefit of only having two seasons left on his contract. Rozier has proven to be a solid player and at age 28 should have multiple productive years left. He has also been durable, only missing 14 games across his three seasons in Charlotte. The Nets will almost assuredly want at least one young player in any deal, and Charlotte can include James Bouknight in this hypothetical trade. A lottery pick just a year ago, Bouknight has not yet found his footing in Charlotte but could flourish with a change of scenery.

The Nets will also demand serious draft capital in any Durant deal. Earlier this week, the Atlanta Hawks sent three first round picks and a pick swap to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Dejounte Murray. Based on that benchmark, Charlotte would be including four first round picks in this hypothetical deal.

Another possible deal that Charlotte could offer would include Miles Bridges in place of Gordon Hayward and PJ Washington in place of James Bouknight. This would be a better return for Brooklyn in the on-court sense, but Bridges’ recent arrest and uncertain status certainly complicates things. Bridges is a restricted free agent, meaning that his inclusion in this deal is contingent on a sign-and-trade arrangement. Again, this would entirely depend on the Nets’ comfort level in bringing in a player who is currently facing domestic violence charges.

Imaginations across the league will run wild with Durant on the market

Charlotte is not likely to acquire Durant’s services; in fact, they are probably one of the least likely teams to do so. However, when a player of Durant’s caliber hits the open market, and when more than half the league has inquired about his availability, imaginations will run wild.