After Miles Bridges put himself on track for unrestricted free agency in 2024 by accepting his qualifying offer as a restricted free agent last week, the Hornets will probably want to avoid putting P.J. Washington on a similar path, writes Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. However, it remains to be seen whether the Hornets and Washington will be able to find common ground on a multiyear deal.
According to Fischer, coming into Summer League, league personnel believed that Washington and the Hornets remained far apart in their discussions on a four-year contract, though there was some optimism they’d come to terms after Summer League.
Marc Stein has reported that Washington is seeking $18MM+ annually, while Fischer previously suggested that the Charlotte forward may be looking for $20MM per year. In his latest article, Fischer says Washington still hasn’t received an offer from the Hornets that matches or exceeds what Isaiah Stewart got on his new extension with Detroit ($15MM in guaranteed money per year; up to $16MM annually with incentives).
Because teams around the NBA are essentially limited to mid-level money at this point, a sign-and-trade would be necessary to get Washington his desired salary from a non-Hornets team. While it’s not clear whether there’s a club out there with serious interest in such a scenario, Fischer says Charlotte would probably prefer a sign-and-trade over Washington accepting his qualifying offer.
Here’s more from Fischer:
- Before he signed his extension, Stewart had generated more trade inquiries in 2023 than any player on the Pistons‘ roster besides Cade Cunningham, sources tell Fischer. The fact that the big man signed a rookie scale extension so early in the offseason indicates that he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
- With the Hornets undergoing an ownership change, there’s a sense in league circles that president of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak and head coach Steve Clifford could be on the hot seat in 2023/24, Fischer writes. Even if the Hornets’ new owners aren’t eager to make an immediate change, Kupchak and Clifford are each entering the final guaranteed year of their respective contracts, Fischer notes, so next offseason might be a logical time to shake things up anyway.
- According to Fischer, league personnel are optimistic that if Tyler Herro is included in a Damian Lillard trade with the Heat, the Trail Blazers will be able to flip Herro to a third team for at least a first-round pick.
- In case you missed it, we passed along several notes and rumors from Fischer on Wednesday.
Maybe the Milwaukee Bucks would be that 3rd team for Herro
Would happily offer up Grayson Allen.
Hope miles has a great season!
Let’s hope he can stay out of trouble first.
There goes Fischer citing those “league personnnel” again. It has to be comforting to POR to know these guys are optimistic that POR can get at least one FRP for Herro. Did they mention if it will be protected?
The rumor is the jazz for herro just because they have so many desirable picks.
It’s been put out there because people have a sense of humor. I’ll believe that UTH gets involved in this deal when it happens.
PJ Washington sign-and-trade to MIN for KAT:
CHA gets:
KAT
Wendell Moore Jr
MIN gets:
PJ Washington
Cody Martin
James Bouknight
2026 FRP
Everybody wanted Stewart. That means he MUST be terrible
I’m all for players signing their QO. It’s short sighted to say they’re taking less money and waiting for a team to offer a deal to be matched. I’m fact it makes a new max salary bigger with the added service time. If their team isn’t willing to pay them unless forced. Seems as though the QO is meant to villianize the players as greedy when it in fact prevents and limits their options. Also working in the players favor is they gain power over the team because they can’t be traded which means teams are not getting anything out of the QO other than 1 year at a more FMV for the player.
If I was Portland I’d give Herro a run, and see what impact Scoot has before deciding to move Herro, Sharpe, or Simons.
Keon Johnson can go, and nobody would mind Herro being the replacement.
Herro might be worth 2 1sts next off-season if he plays well enough. NBA loves shooters these days.
Agree that portland may need to take herro and flip him later a third team that isn’t materializing as rumors would like us to think.
Rumors suggesting herro worth two picks. Just not true! Two crappy picks but more like one protected pick.
The way around this is to wait by taking him in and making him available last minute at the trade deadline. Teams with hurt players or so close to playoffs will pay the premium.
The jazz rumor has merit but the jazz got lucky with all the players opting in. At this point, the new cba has change how players move and how teams value picks or use them going forward. Way different now the. When gobert was traded.
Still can’t believe Kp got dumped for cheap. Boston scored big time.
Herro value is in his large contract. Get two players for one ☝️. Doubt teams want to give a pick and the heat don’t want two crappy players back. Why people feel herro contract is high. Great for herro but hard for the fo to match cap for cap.
If they were to make a sign and trade deal it would be interesting to see what his return would be.
Cause there’s not really many teams out there that need a PJ Washington and can give up 20 mil of salary to get him without giving up to much.
Was just looking up and down other teams and the best I could come up with would’ve been Duncan Robinson and a first, or Evan Fouriner and a first. As Miami could do with having another forward and some size and Knicks could do with a back up 4 but he would be a very expensive back up.
So I’d say it’s more in the best interest of Charlotte to get a deal done. So maybe you overpay but from load it or make it short term.
2 years 30mil with incentives taking it up to 40mil?