Hoops Rumors is previewing the 2020 offseason for all 30 NBA teams. We’re looking at the key questions facing each club, as well as the roster decisions they’ll have to make this fall. Today, we’re focusing on the Charlotte Hornets.
Salary Cap Outlook
The Hornets’ salary cap flexibility has been limited for years due to pricey commitments to role players. While a couple of those contracts – Cody Zeller‘s and Nicolas Batum‘s – remain on the books for one more year, Charlotte is no longer on the hook for Bismack Biyombo, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, or Marvin Williams and will have a little cap room to work with as a result.
The exact amount of space the Hornets will have to work with will depend on where the cap lands and what they do with certain free agents and players with non-guaranteed salaries, but it projects to be in the $20MM range. They’ll also have the room exception available — it’ll be worth $4.77MM if the cap doesn’t increase.
Our full salary cap preview for the Hornets can be found right here.
Roster Decisions To Watch
Options:
- Nicolas Batum, player option: $27,130,434 (Oct. 6 deadline)
Non-Guaranteed Contracts:
- Devonte’ Graham ($1,663,861)
- Caleb Martin ($1,517,981)
- Jalen McDaniels ($1,517,981)
Two-Way Contracts:
- Ray Spalding (expires in 2021)
- Kobi Simmons (expiring)
Free Agents:
- Bismack Biyombo (Bird)
- Willy Hernangomez (Bird)
- Dwayne Bacon (RFA; Bird)
2020 Draft Assets
First Round:
- No. 3 overall pick
Second Round:
- No. 32 overall pick
- No. 56 overall pick
With the possible exception of the Timberwolves, the Hornets were the biggest beneficiary in this year’s draft lottery. They entered the evening with the eighth-best odds, but moved up to the No. 3 spot in the draft and will have an opportunity to select one of the top prospects in this year’s class.
In the second round, the Hornets traded away their own pick (No. 38), but had acquired picks from the Cavaliers and Celtics at Nos. 32 and 56, respectively.
Three Key Offseason Questions
1. What will the Hornets do with the No. 3 overall pick?
A number of the Hornets’ fellow lottery teams – including the Timberwolves and Hawks – have one or two rising young stars to build around. That’s not the case in Charlotte, where no current Hornets players have ever made an All-Star team or averaged 20+ PPG in a season.
Charlotte could badly use some star power, and jumping up to No. 3 in the draft puts the franchise in position to secure a player with All-Star potential. LaMelo Ball is widely considered by draft experts to be the player with the highest ceiling among this year’s prospects, and there are plausible scenarios in which he could slip to No. 3, with Anthony Edwards and James Wiseman in play for the first two draft slots.
The Hornets’ top two scorers in 2019/20 – Devonte’ Graham and Terry Rozier – are also guards, but president of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak has repeatedly stated that he won’t let positional considerations impact his pick in this year’s lottery. And Graham and Rozier don’t have the same level of upside that Ball does.
If Ball comes off the board before the Hornets pick, Kupchak could instead turn to Wiseman, an athletic seven-footer who remains a work in progress on both ends of the floor, but has big-time potential as both a scorer and a rim protector. If he develops as planned, Wiseman could be Charlotte’s long-term answer in the middle.
Since Ball, Wiseman, and Edwards are widely considered to be the top three prospects in this year’s class, some interesting trade opportunities may arise for the Hornets — a team that covets one of those top three prospects could be willing to put together a significant trade package to move up.
Still, it’s worth recalling that one of Kupchak’s first moves when he took control of the Hornets’ front office in 2018 was to trade down one spot in the draft from No. 11 to 12, clearing the way for the Clippers to take Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Two years later, Gilgeous-Alexander is exactly the sort of rising star the Hornets could badly use, so Kupchak will be wary about missing out on a similar opportunity in 2020.
2. Will the Hornets be able to maximize their cap room on the trade market?
Kupchak has said multiple times in recent months that the Hornets don’t expect to be a major player in free agency this offseason. However, the team should still have in the neighborhood of $20MM in cap room — unless ownership doesn’t plan on spending to the league’s salary floor, that means the club will likely take advantage of its cap space on the trade market.
There are two directions the Hornets could go as they pursue trades. One would involve using their cap room to accommodate straight salary dumps in order to accumulate assets. The other would see them use their space to target a player who could become a long-term contributor.
Let’s run through both scenarios, starting with a potential salary dump. The idea here would be to take on unwanted salary along with a draft pick, allowing the Hornets’ trade partner to clear cap room of their own or avoid a pricey luxury tax bill. Last offseason, for instance, we saw the Grizzlies, Clippers, and Hawks acquire first-round picks for taking on Andre Iguodala, Maurice Harkless, and Allen Crabbe, respectively.
It’s a little too early to single out specific teams that could be willing to dump money to Charlotte this offseason, but a club like Philadelphia could fit the bill. The Sixers currently project to be a taxpayer in 2020/21 and have some exorbitant long-term contracts on their books. Maybe they’d be willing to give up a future first-round pick if the Hornets are willing to take on Al Horford‘s pricey multiyear deal in exchange for Cody Zeller‘s less expensive expiring contract.
On the other hand, the Hornets could single out specific players who would fit into their long-term plans and might be available via trade this offseason. Buddy Hield, Myles Turner, and Kelly Oubre are among the young, promising players who may be redundant on their current teams and could be nice fits in Charlotte.
Of course, in those examples, the Hornets would have to give up an asset or two of their own in a trade. If the ask is P.J. Washington or a future first-round pick, that might be a non-starter. But Charlotte could offer cap relief, Malik Monk, Cody Martin, second-round picks, or even a heavily-protected first-rounder — that might be enough to have a conversation about someone like Oubre.
3. Is a contract extension in play for Devonte’ Graham?
Graham’s breakout season in 2019/20 was one of the bright spots of the Hornets’ year and bodes well for the team’s developmental program. Graham – who averaged 18.2 PPG, 7.5 APG, and a .373 3PT% this season – is on a minimum-salary contract for one more year before becoming eligible for restricted free agency in 2021.
Rather than letting Graham play out that deal and risking him signing an expensive offer sheet next year, the Hornets may explore the possibility of a contract extension this offseason. It has now been more than two years since Graham originally signed with the club, so he’ll be extension-eligible throughout his contract year — a new deal signed this year would go into effect for the 2021/22 season.
Because he’s a minimum-salary player, Graham would be eligible for a starting salary worth up to 120% of the league’s estimated average salary. If the cap stays the same in 2020/21 as it was in ’19/20, that would translate to a maximum extension of $51.4MM over four years.
It’s possible Graham would rather bet on himself and try his luck in restricted free agency — that’s what Bogdan Bogdanovic did this past year when he received an identical extension offer from the Kings.
But Graham only really has a one-year track record so far. And unlike Bogdanovic, who made $8.5MM this season, he has only been a minimum-salary player since entering the NBA. A long-term deal worth nearly $13MM per year could sound awfully good to him, and it’s a pretty fair price for the Hornets, even if they don’t expect the 25-year-old to make another major leap within the next year or two.
Josh Richardson, Norman Powell, and Spencer Dinwiddie are among the players in recent years who have signed three- or four-year extensions worth 120% of the NBA’s average salary. I’d expect the Hornets to see whether Graham may want to follow suit this offseason.
Information from Basketball Insiders and ESPN was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Is my following trade idea against CBA rules?
Knicks get 3rd pick
Hornets get 8th pick and cash consideration $15 million
If I’m the hornets then I’m not even picking up the phone f***ing nothing for the 3rd pick really? Ik this is a weak draft class but u would have to give up a Dallas pick to trade up or maybe both Dallas picks. Plus if it stays t-wolves 1 and warriors 2 that would mean LaMelo is still on the board and would make the Knicks more desperate. The warriors and t-wolves definitely won’t select LaMelo and those who say they will are high
The Warriors or Wolves won’t select Ball, but they could easily trade out to someone that would select him. Frankly, I could see either or both of them trading down if someone really wants to move up.
I don’t know if it’s against the CBA, but I don’t have any idea why you think Charlotte would EVER go for that deal?! How does that make Charlotte better? There is a salary cap, so it’s not as if the Hornets can use it to up the payroll. I’d be all for the Hornets trading down, but the other team has to give up value. You don’t get the pick for free.
Think of it this way, since you’re exclusively focusing on the Knicks side- if it were even possible, would you be happy if Dolan pocketed 15m to move down from 8 to 13? Is that in any way good for the Knicks on the court?
Yes it is against the rules. Teams are only allowed to give a certain amount and they are only allowed to receive a certain amount in trades. And that amount applies to all of their trades for the year combined. I think the total is somewhere around $5 million. I’m not sure, but I know it is nowhere near $15 million.
Thanks for the info, Hiflew
Yes …….. Hornets I don’t think trading down. They are probably looking to trade up. I would be
Charlotte history in the draft has not gone well. More misses than makes. They always pick bottom half of lottery. This yr is high pick for them. It’s why I would not want to take Ball. Best fit n pick for them is Wiseman. You have to trade up for that. If I’m MJ I make them do that. Wiseman can totally change team. How much can it take to move up one. Plus Warriors probably better off with player ready now (Toppin, Okongwu). Plus they get another player, pick. Hornets cant afford to miss on the 3rd pick. Ball has the biggest risk of top 10 players. MJ get your center for next 10 yrs. Just do it !!!!
They can trade down. This is a weak class. I honestly wouldn’t care if they traded the #3 for a 1st rd next year, and an additional first in ’23. I don’t want Ball. I’m not 100% sold on Wiseman. If someone really wants that #3, take the potential down the road.
They should extend Graham. It’s a no-brainer, as I see it. That’s a modest price if he doesn’t take another step forward. I believe he’s going to continue to improve, though.
I agree. While Graham wasn’t particularly efficient by a shooter, one could argue the Hornets didn’t have enough talent to detract perimeter defenders, forcing him to take on too heavy of a responsibility. I have to believe he’ll improve with less attention and his work ethic certainly indicates a promising future.
On a related note, it’s pretty cool that the top four picks of the second round are solid role-playing guards that, while not spectacular, each play significant minutes for their respective teams. Okobo, Carter, Brunson, and Graham
There are 3 main prospects everyone is talking about. When you are the team picking #3, you have a huge advantage. If team love those 3, you probably have the last chance for them to get one. Trading down might not be ideal, but Charlotte needs far more than LaMelo Ball or James Wiseman to be a real contender. If the Knicks call offering Kevin Knox and the 8 and a lotto protected 1st or 2 seconds, I’d take it. Of course, I would give the pick away for just a simple future 1st unless the moved down is only to 5 or 6. The higher the jump, the higher the price.
I *wouldn’t give the pick away.
That’s my thought too, mostly. Next year’s class will be a stronger group. I’d sooner they have two 1st rds next year; with the ability to get 2 good players, or package the picks if there is a player they love at the top.
Then you just take a high floor type guy this season. Two or three additions over the next 2 seasons would be a larger difference maker.
Some people say draft talent, not need, but that assumes it is known who is most talented. Hindsight is not available to the GM like it is to a later poster. The Hornets have not been a team to rise above the evaluation odds, so should stick with including fit, and trade down instead of taking Lamelo if Edwards or Wiseman are gone. The #3 pick in a consensus top-3 draft should net something in trade.
Hornets are pretty short; starters are 6-1, 6-1, 6-6, 6-7, 7-0. Best reserve is 6-5 2/3 Cody Martin, who does better than Rozier & Bridges with their terrible on/offs. For keepers they have 1, 3/4, 2/3. Wiseman, if chosen, who can be pushed out, had better get some FA help at the 4, but would allow the team to not re-sign their two backup centers. This could help in negotiations with them— or drive them away!
I don’t think height is a huge issue in today’s NBA. They could commit to playing a small ball type of style. I’d just like to see them improve on the wing and get some more scoring.
What Hornets need most is a player with star potential. You can get that at 3. But you would be swinging for fences. Ball is not that player. Maybe Hayes, Toppin, Okongwu. Edwards and Wiseman will be gone. They don’t have a center. Cody is a backup, Willie is a backup who they don’t even play. He has talent better than Biyombo another bust. So Wiseman fits all needs. A big with star potential. Unfortunately he’s going top two. Either someone trades up for him. It Warriors take him. But if by some miracle he’s there at 3. Than the gods have smiled on them. Graham was a great find. Could probably move Rozier to Knicks. Knicks ain’t trading up. RJ and Mitch are the future. We don’t want Ball unless it’s Lonzo.
Knick need to draft okungwu and play him at 4.trade out julius randle for lonzo or nunn.sign kriss dunn.dunn played well at 3.thib love defensive player.
Nobody is that small. HOU, BOS, GSW bigger. Thing is, what they’re doing, was not really intentional. First sub CodyM at SF subtracts another inch and CodyZ does not patrol well. No way they make an opponent nervous!
Gotta like that bro/teammate CalebM also did okay.
link to wccbcharlotte.com 8-31-20
New unis. Don’t like. Too monochrome, the teal is too light. In the link, no dark-skinned model is used, but I think the tones do not match well. Zeller doesn’t look great either.
The dark purple with teal accents was super.
If it was up to me… a teal silhouette of both Carolinas would be on front— and might sell more tickets! Pinstripes are good. Anything to distract from the swarmers. {Sorry to trod upon your hole in the ground horrible bugs. Now meet Mr.Badminton Raquet} They did come up with a good Hornet symbol.
I’m excited to see the return of the pinstripes. That’s a nice throwback to the 90s uniforms.
The monochrome style works for me with the white uniforms, but I agree it’d be better if it had more of the darker purple in it to offset the overall brightness of the jerseys. The teal uniforms especially. Those jerseys really could use the darker color in it.