Hornets on 10-1 Streak
The Charlotte Hornets are on a 10-1 streak while the Pistons lead the East race. Trade deadline buzz covers Ja Morant's Memphis future, the Pacers' Zubac deal, and potential Kawhi summer trade discussions.
- The Pistons hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a 39-13 record, leading their closest competitor by 5.5 games. At the heart of their success are All-Star Cade Cunningham, averaging nearly 25 points and 10 assists, and Jalen Duren, who is averaging 17.7 points and 10.5 rebounds. - The Hornets' recent streak was the franchise's longest since 1999. A key factor has been the starting lineup of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, and Moussa Diabaté, which has a 15-1 record when playing together. - During a recent nine-game winning streak, the Hornets became the first team in NBA history to win that many consecutive games without a single point being scored by a player aged 28 or older. - The Memphis Grizzlies "dramatically" lowered their asking price for Ja Morant ahead of the trade deadline. While no deal was made, the team is expected to revisit trade talks in the offseason after trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. - The Indiana Pacers acquired center Ivica Zubac from the Clippers in exchange for a package that included high-scoring wing Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, and two first-round draft picks. - After trading away James Harden and Ivica Zubac, the Los Angeles Clippers received multiple trade inquiries for Kawhi Leonard before the deadline. Teams are expected to re-engage the Clippers on a potential Leonard trade this summer, as he will be entering the final year of his contract. - Ja Morant is currently recovering from an elbow injury but is expected to return shortly after the All-Star break. He is eligible to sign a three-year, $178 million contract extension this summer. - The Toronto Raptors, where Leonard won a championship in 2019, have been mentioned as a potential suitor should he become available via trade.
