Cavs remain in hot pursuit of Hornets' Walker

With just hours remaining before the NBA trade deadline, the Cleveland Cavaliers have stepped up in pursuing a trade for Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker, according to a report from ESPN.

Along with the Hornets, the Cavaliers are also having serious discussions with the Los Angeles Clippers for center DeAndre Jordan and Sacramento Kings for guard George Hill. ESPN also reported the Cavs are in serious talks with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Of those potential deals, a Jordan trade seemed to be gaining the most traction earlier in the day, with the Hornets supposedly not budging much in talks with the Cavs on Walker.

However, the Cavs have remained persistent in trying to find help for a squad that has struggled mightily since Jan. 1.

Meanwhile, the Hornets are admittedly open to potentially moving Walker.

"We’re not shopping Kemba, but it’s our job to listen,” Hornets general manager Rich Cho said. “It would take something really great to move him. We love Kemba. He’s a great player, All-Star caliber.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if we did do something, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we didn’t do something.”

According to Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports, team owner MichaelJordan and his front office are receiving plenty of inquiries about the availability of Walker.

“The Hornets continue to field calls on Kemba Walker, but no Walker deal gets done unless a team absorbs one of the handful of bad contracts on Charlotte’s roster, sources said,” Mannix reported. “Another variable at play: The future of GM Rich Cho. Cho is in the final year of his contract and there have been rumblings that former Los Angeles Lakers GM MitchKupchak is a favorite among high-ranking team officials to take over next summer."

Teams have until 3 p.m. EST to swing a deal.