The Hornets are unlikely to add more players on guaranteed contracts before the season begins, according to general manager Mitch Kupchak, Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer tweets.
After coming to terms with restricted free agent P.J. Washington, the Hornets have 13 players on fully guaranteed deals, plus another (Frank Ntilikina) on a partial guarantee. JT Thor has a non-guaranteed contract for the upcoming season.
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- It’s possible that Erik Spoelstra, an assistant to Steve Kerr for Team USA, will be game-planning against Nikola Jovic and Serbia in the World Cup championship game. Heat assistant GM Adam Simon is rooting for that outcome, according to Eurohoops.net. Spoeltra already got a chance to talk to the Heat forward during the tournament. “It’s great that the two of them had a chat for a while in Manila. I hope they will meet again in the final,” Simon told Meridian Sport.
- Scouts that spoke to The Athletic’s Josh Robbins regarding Wizards forward Deni Avdija believe the Israeli can carve out a lengthy NBA career. However, the consensus opinion is that Avdija hasn’t shown enough offensively to live up to his draft status and become a difference-maker for a contender. Avdija was selected ninth overall in 2020. He’ll be a restricted free agent next summer if Washington’s front office extends him a qualifying offer.
- With Kristaps Porzingis in Boston, Daniel Gafford is the only proven shot-blocker on the Wizards’ roster. That’s one reason why he could see more playing time, according to Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Gafford is also comfortable playing at a faster pace, which the Wizards’ staff wants to implement, and ranks as their best screen-setter.
Gafford and two 2nds for Wiseman
In terms of Hornets moves.
I’d actually love to see Gordan Hayward set free from that franchise. He’s such as underrated and under appreciated player. He’s just becoming irrelevant in Charlotte on a poor team that’s trying to rebuild. He so could be the third or fourth scoring option on a near title contender.
Here’s some quick suggestions.
Terry Rozier and Gordan Hayward for Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, Highsmith and a protected first.
Miami, lines up Terry Jimmy Gordan Caleb Martin and Bam. Defensively you don’t really drop off at all and offensively you improve a lot. Teams won’t just be able to focus on Jimmy alone. Off the bench you still have the likes of Herro, Jrich and KLove. Charlotte gets back a decent expiring deal in Lowry. He’d also be a good locker room leader for a young side. Robinson gives them a shooter for floor spacing and they get a pick.
Another idea, Gordan Hayward for Bertans, Oladipo and 3 second round picks.
OKC firstly need to trim down the roster and this moves helps do that. Secondly they have all these picks but don’t have the room on the roster anymore. They don’t need second round picks.
Gordan Hayward would slot in great either as a starter or coming off the bench as a experienced head among the young guys. He’d also be great for helping with the development of guys like Deing and Jaylin Williams off the court.
Charlotte would be getting Bertans who could actually be useful as a floor spacing big man. Oladipo likely gets cut and then they get back a bunch of picks, sweet.
Lastly and more drastically,
Hayward, Rozier, Martin and 2 firsts for KAT, Conley and Anderson.
Minny goes for a full refresh here and gives the keys solely to ANT.
Rozier is a great complementary guard, can handle, shoot and defend somewhat. Hayward is a decent wing scoring option, McDaniels would be the other forward and Gobert at centre. Martin adds to the depth and they bank a couple of first. I think they’d actually be a better side and if Gordan fails then let him walk in FA and use his expiring contract to bring in fresh talent around ANT.
Charlotte get a star centre to go with LaMelo. KAT spaces the floor perfectly for slashing forwards like Bridges, Washington and Miller. In fact you could play some kind of weird 1 guard, 3 forwards, 1 centre typa line up if you wanted.
You’d be solid enough defensively, likely win the rebounding battle and would be very entertaining to watch. Conley and Anderson provide a veteran presence for a better locker room and would also make the younger second unit better.
Deni needs to shoot better, pure and simple. It would also help if he can improve his finishing and cut down on the turnovers, particularly as a secondary playmaker, but if he doesnt start hitting his threes more regularly he’ll be a bench guy in the NBA. Of course, it’s entirely possible he winds up with a long career in that type of role since he’s a tenacious defender and underrated rebounder, so I don’t disagree with the assessment.
It will be a long 3-4 yrs developing any players in wash dc… poor avdija, johnny davis… they’re basing all of these in pure potential… and they may end up a pure disappointment and will be forgotte. In 3-4 yrs. The wiz org really needs to scout thoroughly in the coming yrs… or we will be bottom feeders for the next decade again