Report: Hornets inquired about Wizards' Beal

Despite boasting the league's leading scorer in Kemba Walker, the Charlotte Hornets continue to tread water with an 8-8 record and are eighth in the Eastern Conference. That position evidently has the team's brain trust considering the possibility of adding some major reinforcements.

The Hornets have engaged in talks with the division-rival Washington Wizards regarding the availability of All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal, a source told The Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell.

Beal, named an All-Star for the first time last season, has emerged as a quality scorer in his own right, averaging 22.7 points on 46.7 percent shooting since the beginning of the 2016-17 season.

However, like the Hornets, the Wizards have been unable to break through the middle tier of Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls, averaging just under 45 wins per season since 2013-14 yet never advancing past the second round of the playoffs. The lack of forward progress has led some to question the long-term outlook of a team that currently boasts the sixth-highest salary in the league ($132.3 million), but a lowly 5-11 record to start the season.

On Monday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Wizards have made their entire roster available for trade, including Beal and point guard John Wall. The revelation comes at a time when both members of the Wizards' All-Star backcourt have reportedly voiced their displeasure with the team's current state of affairs as tensions rise between players, head coach Scott Brooks, and the front office.