5 Hornets trades that would immediately make them a playoff team

The Charlotte Hornets are better than their record suggests. They have been one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference for the past two seasons, but they’ve also dealt with a ton of injuries.

Should LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams stay on the court for the majority of next season, the Hornets should see a nice rise in the East standings. But is it enough?

The East isn’t nearly as competitive as the West when it comes to getting into the playoffs, but the Hornets still need to be proactive if they want a chance at getting there.

Contingent on the health of Ball, Williams, and the entire core, here are five Hornets trades that would immediately make them a playoff team.

1. Jerami Grant

The two biggest things the Hornets should be looking to add to their roster are defense and three-point shooting. Jerami Grant would bring both of those to the table.

The Portland Trail Blazers are in the midst of what looks like it will be a long rebuild. And while they just extended Grant this past summer, they would likely give him up for the right price.

Davis Bertans is nothing more than matching salary in this deal, and the oft-injured Cody Martin would likely be the same, though he could be a solid piece if he gets health.

Nick Smith Jr. would be a nice project for the Trail Blazers to take on, and the draft capital would be valuable to them as well.

For the Hornets they would get an immediate upgrade on the defensive end, some three-point shooting to help space the floor for the rest of their lineup, and a guy who can create his own shot when he needs to.

Potential Hornets starting lineup: LaMelo Ball, Tre Mann, Brandon Miller, Jerami Grant, Mark Williams