The Charlotte Hornets reportedly want to trade for Denver Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo. According to Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler, though, Denver is being coy about whether Afflalo can be had.
The Nuggets' decision to trade Timofey Mozgov opened the possibility of a firesale happening in Denver. Some NBA teams purportedly have called the Nuggets to inquire about the availability of some of the other players on the roster, namely Afflalo and Wilson Chandler.
One team interested in Afflalo and likely to try to land him, according to Kyler, is Charlotte.
"...Teams see Afflalo as obtainable; however, the Nuggets are being elusive on that front," Kyler wrote Thursday. "The team to watch here is Charlotte. Hornets head coach Steve Clifford has long coveted Afflalo and had urged his front office to move on Afflalo several times over the last year. With Charlotte continuing to hover just outside the playoff picture in the East, Clifford may have the leverage he needs to get a guy he has wanted for some time.
"The question becomes do the Hornets have the assets it would take to get Denver to bite? Eventually Denver has to make a decision because Afflalo is likely going to use his option for free agency in July, meaning the Nuggets could lose him for nothing."
ESPN also named Charlotte as one of several teams pursuing Afflalo.
Charlotte signed Lance Stephenson in the summer to upgrade the 2-guard spot, but the union has yet to pay dividends. Stephenson purportedly has been on the trade block since December, but there hasn't been a market willing to give up first-round picks for him.
Denver would be an unlikely candidate to take back Stephenson, who's owed $9 million next season, if they are trying to rebuild in the offseason.
As for Afflalo, ESPN reported the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers reached out to Denver about his availability. Denver also has received interest for Chandler from the Portland Trail Blazers, according to Grantland's Zach Lowe.
The trade deadline is on Feb. 19.
