While the Hornets have an open roster spot, it’s unlikely they’ll use it to add a significant player due to the team’s salary cap situation, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer explains. The franchise has slightly over $117.4MM in salary on the books against a luxury tax threshold of approximately $119.3MM and for a team that doesn’t expect to contend for a championship, remaining below the threshold is the wisest move.
Charlotte has the ability to offer a free agent a salary above the minimum, as it still wields its bi-annual exception, which is worth $3.29MM. However, as Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors previously speculated, it’s unlikely that the Hornets use this vehicle given their proximity to the luxury tax apron.
Here’s more from Charlotte:
- Defense could be a major issue for Malik Monk, Bonnell contends in the same piece. Monk, whom the Hornets selected with the No. 11 overall pick, is expected to see an immediate role in Charlotte’s rotation this season.
- The five spot is the Hornets‘ greatest position of strength, Bonnell writes in the same piece. Charlotte added Dwight Howard this offseason to bolster a unit that includes Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky.
- If Howard can come close to matching his production in previous seasons, the Hornets should be able to reach the postseason again after missing the NBA’s second season last year, Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer argues. The team only had to give up Miles Plumlee and Marco Belinelli this summer to acquire Howard and Sorensen adds that the former No. 1 overall pick should feel insulted by the deal, as the perception is that the Hornets didn’t give up much value to bring him in.
I think Charlotte will be somewhere between a 4-6 seed. Cleveland and Boston are the clear 1 and 2 seeds, Toronto or Washington will likely be 3. 4 through 6 should be a battle between Toronto & Washington(whichever doesn’t get the 3 seed), Charlotte and Milwaukee. The East 7 and 8 seeds will be either Miami, Philly, Indy and Detroit.
Indy will go no where near the playoffs
Indy s trying to tank it
Indy has enough talent to screw around and get the 8 seed in a weak East. Oladipo, Stephenson, Turner, Sabonis, Collison might not be that bad.
Expect Heat from Miami!
Expect Bucks from Milwaukee!