18. Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets have been stuck in basketball purgatory for quite some time. They struck gold by drafting Kemba Walker in the 2011 NBA draft, but have yet to surround him with any quality talent As a result, the team has been stuck in the middle of the pack for years.
The Hornets have failed to draw in any notable free agents and have drafted dud after dud. This has led to years of mediocracy that both the fanbase and the franchise have grown tired of. Therefore, if Durant is ever put on the trading block, the Hornets might be willing to give up multiple assets in hopes of acquiring him.
A potential package could include the likes of Kemba Walker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Frank Kaminsky and Malik Monk in exchange for Durant. The Hornets are obviously trading a large chunk of their team away, but are essentially hitting the reset button on their franchise.
By keeping their draft picks, the Hornets would be able to continue building through the draft as well as maybe getting a star in this year’s upcoming draft. Then, with a superstar like Durant, they could legitimately compete in the Eastern Conference for years to come.