Hornets president of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak made it clear earlier in the 2019/20 league year that he doesn’t expect his team to be a major player in free agency during the 2020 offseason, despite projecting to be one of the few clubs with real cap room. However, that doesn’t mean that Charlotte will ignore the free agent market entirely.
“We’ll look to acquire talent via trades and depending on the circumstances, we will look at the potential of a strategic free-agent signing,” the Hornets’ executive said, per Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer (Twitter link).
As Bonnell notes in a separate tweet, a “strategic” signing for the Hornets could be a smaller deal that focuses on a specific area of need, such as rim protection or more offensive versatility on the wing.
Here’s more on the Hornets:
- Appearing on WFNZ in Charlotte, Kupchak admitted that the Hornets aren’t in position to focus on positional need in the draft rather than opting for the best player available (Twitter links via Bonnell). “We’re just not good enough to do that right now — to bypass maybe a more talented player because we think we need help at a certain position,” Kupchak said.
- Speaking of the draft, Kupchak recently said that the Hornets have interviewed approximately 25 players who could be picked in the late first or early second round (Twitter link via Bonnell). Charlotte doesn’t have its own second-round pick, but has Cleveland’s, which will be No. 32. The Hornets are focusing on meeting with candidates for that pick rather than their lottery selection because top prospects generally haven’t been participating in many video calls yet (Twitter link via Bonnell).
- Hornets guard Dwayne Bacon is eligible for restricted free agency this offseason and appears unlikely to return to Charlotte. Bacon said last week that his best option would be to “go somewhere else” as a free agent, according to Bonnell (Twitter link).
- In a mailbag for The Charlotte Observer, Bonnell discussed Nicolas Batum‘s future, how a lower-than-expected salary cap would affect the Hornets in 2020/21, and a handful of other topics.
I’d love for Charlotte and Boogie Cousins to bang out a deal. The Hornets, even with a lower cap, could afford to give him a more sizable deal. Boogie could rebuild his value, and Charlotte could potentially use him as a trade chip on a 1 or 2 year deal.
I dig that idea. I’d like to see them gamble on a rebound candidate or 2 in FA on 1 yr deals, and possibly look to take on a contract via trade if some team would part with a pick.
I’d love them to take on a bigger contract like Horford and get something like Zhaire Smith(unproven player with potential) and a 1st
I like the potential in your trade. Horford would probably play a little better outside of Philly, and Smith is an interesting player. The pick would be a nice get, too. Charlotte might have to move a little salary out somehow in your deal though, depending on how much the cap fell.
The return might be too light for the Lakers, but I’d like to see Charlotte try something to this effect:
Hornets get:
F Kyle Kuzma
SG Alex Caruso
Lakers get:
SG Malik Monk
Rights to Clippers 2nd rd pick in ’21
I like Kuzma, but he seems to be an awkward pairing with AD and LeBron. Maybe LA would consider dealing him? Monk seems to be a good change of scenery candidate, too.