The Charlotte Bobcats were swept by defending champions Miami Heat in the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs, but the soon-to-be "Hornets" made significant progress this season.
In hopes of improving next season, the Bobcats are expected to make moves in the offseason with sources saying that the team will address their point guard and small forwards needs.
And according to ESPN's Marc Stein, Bobcats head coach Steve Clifford will look to strike a trade to acquire Jameer Nelson and Arron Afflalo from the Orlando Magic this summer. Both players were reportedly shopped by the Magic before the trade deadline, but they failed to find a taker.
"The rumbles have already begun that a player Clifford is said to regard with real fondness after working with him in Orlando as an assistant -- vet floor leader Jameer Nelson -- as well as current Magic swingman Arron Afflalo will be among the Bobcats' trade targets," Stein wrote.
Afflalo had the best season of his seven-year career, averaging 18.2 points to go along with 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists. The 28-year-old guard will earn $7.5 million next season, and holds a player option for the 2015-16 season in which he is also due to earn around $7.5 million.
On the other hand, Nelson, who averaged 12.1 points and 3.4 assists this season, will be playing in the final year of his contract next season that will pay him $8 million, but only $2 million of that is guaranteed if the veteran playmaker will be waived by July 15.
Acquiring a wingman in the offseason will be the top priority of the Bobcats with one scout saying that the position should be the main concern of most Eastern Conference teams in order to match up with the likes of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Paul George, and Paul Pierce.
"The buzz around the soon-to-be-resurrected Hornets is that a dependable small forward will surely be their top target in free agency, and MJ will again have money to spend, if he can find a willing taker," Stein noted.
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