Yahoo Sports
Summer agenda: Charlotte Hornets
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
The Vertical Front-Office Insider Bobby Marks, a 20-year executive with the Nets, offers his thoughts on the offseason plans of NBA teams whose seasons have ended.
THE PLAN GOING FORWARD
Prioritize free agency
The advantage for the Hornets in free agency is five of the better free agents are theirs.
The problem is getting each player to fit into the salary-cap puzzle and keeping together a core that won 48 games this season.
Nic Batum, Al Jefferson, Courtney Lee, Marvin Williams and Jeremy Lin each fit into the blueprint of general manager Rich Cho and coach Steve Clifford.
Charlotte, with $48 million in guaranteed contracts and $66 million in free-agent cap holds, will not be able to sign all five players, who will be coveted by teams overflowing with cap space.
The odd man out is likely going to be Lin. With Lin opting out of his contract – and with non-Bird rights – Charlotte will have to use cap space to sign him. To create room, Charlotte would need to address Batum, Jefferson, Lee and Williams before circling back to Lin. The large cap holds have Charlotte over the salary cap.
If Batum is brought back at $20 million and Jefferson at $10 million then Charlotte could have room for Lin. However, that would cost the team Lee and Williams. The issue for Charlotte is that with a weak free-agent point-guard class, Lin could be off the board within the first few days of free agency.
Charlotte could try and find a home for Spencer Hawes and Jeremy Lamb to create additional cap room, but even the $11 million in savings would not be enough to allow the Hornets to bring back all five players.
The next two months will be critical for the Hornets to prioritize their free agents.
Have multiple free-agent options
Portland showed last summer the value of executing a backup plan when it lost LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency.
The Hornets will be walking that same free-agent tightrope.
Leading up to July 1, the Hornets will need to have every free-agent and trade scenario on the table. If they don’t, their success this season will be a distant memory.
What backup free-agent point guard can play with Kemba Walker if Lin leaves? If cap space is needed for Lin, how will it be created? If Batum signs elsewhere, who on the open market can replace him? How many more years will Jefferson produce at a high level? Will Lee’s salary demands be too much? Will Williams become a luxury based on the development of Frank Kaminsky?
Cho and his staff will prepare for every scenario, including the doomsday scenario of being left with $39 million in cap space if a mass exodus of their free agents occurs.
TEAM NEEDS
In a perfect scenario, all five free agents return, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist stays healthy, Charlotte’s first-round pick pays off, and the Hornets build off their success.
However NBA teams do not operate in a perfect world.
The challenge of bringing back Lin could mean Charlotte will be looking for a backup point guard.
The Kidd-Gilchrist injury and the development of Cody Zeller, Lamb and Kaminsky will also affect Charlotte’s decisions.
SUMMER CAP BREAKDOWN
Guaranteed | 2016-17 | Insider info |
1. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | $13,000,000 | None |
2. Kemba Walker | $12,000,000 | None |
3. Jeremy Lamb | $6,511,628 | None |
4. Spencer Hawes | $6,348,759 | None |
5. Cody Zeller | $5,318,313 | Eligible for rookie extension |
6. Frank Kaminsky | $2,730,000 | None |
Non/partial | 2016-17 | Guarantee date |
7. Aaron Harrison | $874,636 | None |
FA cap holds | 2016-17 | Free-agent status |
8. Al Jefferson | $20,250,000 | Full Bird rights |
9. Nicolas Batum | $19,687,959 | Full Bird rights |
10. Courtney Lee | $10,782,500 | Full Bird rights |
11. Marvin Williams | $9,100,000 | Early Bird rights |
12. Jeremy Lin | $2,566,800 | Non -Bird rights |
13. Troy Daniels | $980,431 | Restricted/early Bird rights |
14. Tyler Hansbrough | $980,431 | Non -Bird rights |
15. Jeffrey Taylor | $980,431 |
|
16. Jason Maxiell | $980,431 |
|
First-round hold | 2016-17 |
|
17. Own pick at No. 22 | $1,199,900 |
|
CAP PICTURE
Guaranteed | $45,908,700 |
Non/partial | $874,636 |
FA cap holds | $66,308,983 |
First-round holds | $1,199,900 |
Minimum holds | $0 |
Dead money | $0 |
Total | $114,292,219 |
Salary cap | $92,000,000 |
Cap space | None ($22,292,219 over cap) |
JUNE DRAFT PICKS
First round: Own pick
Second round: To Denver
FUTURE PICKS
First round
Charlotte owns all their its first-round picks.
Key rights to: None
PREVIOUS SUMMER AGENDAS: Nets | Pelicans | Timberwolves | Lakers | Knicks | Wizards | Bucks | 76ers | Nuggets | Kings | Bulls | Magic | Suns | Jazz | Grizzlies | Pistons | Mavs | Celtics | Rockets | Pacers | Hawks
More NBA coverage from The Vertical:
