8:23pm: Gibson’s signing is official, the Hornets announced in a press release.
9:51am: The Hornets intend to sign veteran big man Taj Gibson to a one-year, $3.3MM contract, agent Mark Bartelstein tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Based on the reported terms, Gibson will receive the veteran’s minimum for a player with 10+ years of experience ($3,303,771), while Charlotte will carry a $2,087,519 cap hit.
The 26th pick of the 2009 draft, Gibson has spent the past 15 seasons in the NBA. He had a long stint with Chicago to open his career before playing for Oklahoma City, Minnesota, New York (twice), Washington and Detroit. He finished the 2023/24 season with the Pistons.
Gibson, 39, is no longer a top-tier reserve or a starter like he was in his prime, but he’s still highly valued for his locker-room presence, professionalism and leadership.
Charlotte has a new front office led by head of basketball operations Jeff Peterson and a new head coach in Charles Lee. The team has repeatedly mentioned work ethic as a point of emphasis this offseason, which is something Gibson is known for.
The 6’9″ forward/center holds career averages of 8.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 1.0 BPG in 965 regular season games, including 450 starts (23.5 MPG).
I like this more than the Bridges signing. Should have let him go somewhere else. All you had to do is trade Nick Smith and draft capital for a elite young SG prospect. Or just sign and trade Bridges to Detroit for Holland and a contract
I like this though. Veteran leadership is important. I don’t want to hear blah blah blah he is waisting a roster spot for someone else, I could care less about a 15th man trying to jack up 3s. Should have at least three veterans per team.
Charlotte has had an under the radar off season. Bridges drama aside. Plus, why do we have to throw away young men who make mistakes? I think the leagues should suspend players but force the team to hold onto him until he completes his probation and required rehabilitation and not just toss a guy aside, whose then free to sign elsewhere. The worst of the worst ones are just hard to stand by a guy… I know that… but so many people complaining he’s still in the league. Let’s root for him to figure his life out and not have a basketball sized hole in his chest because he succumbed to his emotions. I’ll never defend violence towards women but don’t you think the team is where healing can begin for him and his family? Resources at your finger tips to get help. Condem your own actions and show praise for the woman he left emotional scars. Seems like we could do better to help the young families out. Kids or know kids.
Udonis 2.0. Watching him play last season was depressing, hopefully he never sees the court at all.
And you have ppl complaining about bronny lmao
Better than Bronny
Doesn’t make a any sense for me; is the hornets want a positive locker room presence hire him like a assistant coach
Casual
The GM of the Hornets walks into a bar,
He says to the bartender,
“I’ll have a GIBSON !!”
Debbie is retired. ……
Wtf
Death, taxes and Taj Gibson getting a contract.
Not just vet leadership. He shows the young guys how to improve and use the coaching to get better. He still can give you mins. One yr contract is a solid move. Hopefully he can get in Bridges head…….. 3.3 is a nice pay day for Taj. Go get it player.
Like with Burks, I’d have preferred he be with the NYK. But I understand the numbers game their roster currently presents right now. If someone wants a quick explanation of what a Thibs’ guy is, tell them to check out Taj. Hope he enjoys his time in CHA.
The beautiful thing about the Knicks right now is we don’t need Taj for that – we have excellent players in their primes who are super Thibsy.
Taj decidedly cannot give minutes anymore. I’m not opposed to the signing for a team like Charlotte with young talent that hasn’t come together, just glad that no longer describes us
Yes, at this point, the culture is in the hands of the more talented core we now have. They’re more than able to lead the team, including the young players we will need to keep bringing in each year. But guys like Burks, Bullock, Rose and Taj set the template with their buy-in.
Thibs is now the GM of the Hornets?