SELLERS: Charlotte Hornets

Potential Departures: Cody Zeller, Nic Batum, Marvin Williams, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Malik Monk

The Hornets seemed to have finally settled on their immediate core, and their former starting quartet of Zeller, Williams, Kidd-Gilchrist and Batum are not a part of it.

I'm convinced the Hornets are getting crickets anytime they shop Batum, who will get $25 million next season for the right to accrue DNP-CD's. Williams and MKG are both on expiring deals. Williams is still a solid stretch 4 that provides a modicum of rim protection whilst Zeller would be an excellent reserve big for a contender. Boston could certainly do worse than the still somehow only 27 year old Zeller.

Malik Monk is the name that sticks out on this list, given he's still a few weeks from turning 22. Unfortunately, Monk hasn't really done anything of note in his 2 and a half professional season career to make the Hornets brass want to invest more time into him. With Dwayne Bacon already better than him, the Hornets may look to cash in whilst there is still the perception of potential.

BUYERS: Boston Celtics

Needs: Defensive Big

Potential targets: Tristan Thompson (Cavaliers), Andre Drummond (Pistons)

Boston currently play a troika of Daniel Theis, Enes Kanter and Robert Williams at the 5. All are perfectly fine NBA players, but all have very clear and exploitable deficiencies. If the Celtics are serious about making a run this season, they need to upgrade.

Luckily for GM Danny Ainge, there are two very suitable targets that should both be very available.

Tristan Thompson is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker, with Championship experience. He's also nimble enough on the perimeter to fit with the Celtics switchy defensive scheme.

Andre Drummond is the elite rebounder in the NBA, currently gobbling up15.9 boards per game – a full 1.5 ahead of Clint Capela and Rudy Gobert in joint 2nd. He also blocks 1.9 shots a game and swipes 1.8 steals. Whilst he can get lost positionally, he's fantastic in just about all defensive scenarios.

The stumbling block for Boston is salary matching. Drummond makes $27 million, Thompson $18 million – Boston would have to get a 3rd team involved to make something happen.

SELLERS: Cleveland Cavaliers

Possible departures: Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson

This is an obvious one. The Cavs are building around their young guards, and their starting bigs are in the tail end of their primes. Both Love and Thompson should have plenty of suitors, so it's just a matter of what Cleveland want for their assets, and who can make the closest offer.

Love's shooting and rebounding would help any contender, just as it did when he joined the Cavs. Boston would have to perform some incredible cap gymnastics (or get a 3rd team involved) to get Love, but he may not – with one notable exception - work in their switchable defense. Thompson would be a great fit for the Celtics, however.

In the West, Rick Carlisle would make either player work with his Mavs. And don't sleep on Daryl Morey making a run at Love for his Rockets.

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