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USA TODAY Sports

This Kemba Walker guy is pretty important to the Charlotte Hornets.

Fighting for one of the Eastern Conference's final two playoff spots may not seem like much, but that's the Hornets' reality. They haven't made back-to-back postseason appearances since 2001 and 2002, so returning to The Show would be huge—especially knowing they began 2014-15 at 10-24, putting their playoff hopes on the brink of extinction.

Hence why Walker's latest injury is so devastating.

After suffering a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee, Walker will have surgery and is expected to miss six weeks, per the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell and Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. Injuries are never convenient, but his absence comes at a particularly problematic time.

The Hornets have just a half-game hold on the East's final playoff spot. Enduring a setback that may last 20 or more games could jerk them out of the postseason picture. Not surprisingly, they're trying to avoid such a collapse.

Wojnarowski says the team is "pursuing trade avenues" to replace Walker in the interim. Though their focus is naturally on point guards, the Hornets are general buyers. We're here, in this space, to identify the best targets.

Aside from potential Walker replacements, the Hornets also need offensive output and floor spacing. They rank 28th in points scored per 100 possessions—a standing that worsens when Walker is off the floor—and 29th in three-point shooting.

Prospective targets may overlap; these are not all players who can be acquired in conjunction with one another. Rather, they're those who give the Hornets what they need more than anything else: a chance to survive Walker's stay on the sidelines and end their season with a second straight playoff berth.