The Hornets took some real steps forward in 2021/22. After posting a 33-39 record and the NBA’s 23rd-best net rating (-1.9) a year earlier, Charlotte registered a positive net rating and won an additional 10 games, finishing at 43-39.
The end result was the same, however. In both years, the Hornets finished 10th in the Eastern Conference, went on the road for their first play-in game, and lost it in blowout fashion due to a lackluster defensive performance.
Rather than focusing on the positive strides the Hornets made this past season, the team’s front office and ownership group instead focused on the repeated play-in disappointments. As a result, head coach James Borrego was dismissed and roster changes are likely around the corner for a Hornets team looking to play more than just a single postseason game in 2023.
The Hornets’ Offseason Plan:
The Hornets are the only NBA team that still has a head coaching vacancy, after the Kings and Lakers filled their respective openings. Hiring a replacement for Borrego will be the first order of business and will be one of the most important decisions of the offseason.
Ideally, Charlotte would want a coach capable of maximizing LaMelo Ball‘s talents, developing prospects like James Bouknight and Kai Jones, solidifying the defense, and turning a lottery team into a legitimate playoff threat. Finding a candidate who checks all those boxes won’t be easy.
Mike D’Antoni‘s name has frequently been linked to the Charlotte job, which makes some sense given his history with point guards, but he’s not exactly known as a defensive mastermind. Darvin Ham was reportedly considered a serious candidate, but he’s off the table now that he has agreed to coach the Lakers. Frank Vogel, Terry Stotts, Kenny Atkinson, David Vanterpool, Charles Lee, and Sean Sweeney are among the others who have reportedly interviewed, but it’s unclear whether any of them have captured the Hornets’ imagination with their vision for the franchise.
Once their head coaching search is complete, the Hornets will shift their focus to addressing a roster that still has a few holes. I’d expect the front office to do all it can to retain restricted free agent Miles Bridges, who was the team’s leading scorer in 2021/22. Charlotte would presumably prefer not to go all the way up to the maximum salary to re-sign Bridges, and it’s possible that won’t be necessary if no other team makes a serious run at him. But the cost to lock him up long-term will almost certainly be $25MM+ per year.
Assuming they secure Bridges, the Hornets will have to determine how best to surround him and rising star Ball going forward. Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, P.J. Washington, Montrezl Harrell, Kelly Oubre, Mason Plumlee, Cody Martin, and Jalen McDaniels filled out the rotation in 2021/22, but there are questions surrounding many of those players.
Hayward has battled injury issues since arriving in Charlotte — will the Hornets be able to use his contract in a trade or will they have to count on him being healthier going forward? Washington is extension-eligible this offseason, but is he a long-term keeper or a potential trade chip in a deal for an impact player?
Will Harrell be re-signed or will he be a roster casualty as the Hornets look to upgrade their center spot? Will Oubre and Plumlee, who both have partial guarantees, be retained on their current deals? What will it cost to re-sign RFA-to-be Martin? And does it make sense to turn down McDaniels’ option and negotiate a new contract with him this summer instead of waiting for him to reach unrestricted free agency in 2023?
While one of Harrell or Plumlee could be back, I’d expect acquiring a starting center to be at or near the top of the Hornets’ offseason to-do list. The team’s poor defensive numbers can be attributed in part to lacking the sort of big man who can protect the rim and control the boards.
Myles Turner has long been on Charlotte’s radar, but may not be on the trade block anymore following the Pacers’ decision to move Domantas Sabonis. If the Hornets want to swing big, Rudy Gobert or Deandre Ayton could be options, either via trade or free agency. If they want to play it a little safer, targeting players like Richaun Holmes or Mitchell Robinson could make more sense.
The Hornets control two first-round picks next month, at No. 13 and No. 15, which should create additional options for them on the trade market. It’s possible Charlotte could simply use both picks, but after not getting much out of last year’s first-rounders, Bouknight and Jones, it seems unlikely that the team would want to bring in more rookies in 2022/23, especially with the pressure to make the playoffs increasing.
If the Hornets can’t make a deal on or before draft night that sends out one of those picks in a deal for veteran talent, don’t be surprised if they trade one of them for a future first-round selection, plus maybe a second-rounder or two. Those picks could subsequently be used as sweeteners in a trade for win-now help during free agency or even at next season’s deadline.
Salary Cap Situation
Note: Our salary cap figures are based on the league’s latest projection ($122MM) for 2022/23.
Guaranteed Salary
- Gordon Hayward ($30,075,000)
- Terry Rozier ($21,486,316)
- Nicolas Batum ($8,856,969) — Waived via stretch provision.
- LaMelo Ball ($8,623,920)
- P.J. Washington ($5,808,435)
- Kelly Oubre ($5,000,000) — Partial guarantee. Rest of salary is noted in non-guaranteed section below. 1
- James Bouknight ($4,362,240)
- Mason Plumlee ($4,262,500) — Partial guarantee. Rest of salary is noted in non-guaranteed section below. 2
- Kai Jones ($2,909,040)
- JT Thor ($1,563,518)
- Total: $92,947,938
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- Jalen McDaniels ($1,930,681): Bird rights 3
- Total: $1,930,681
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Kelly Oubre ($7,600,000) 1
- Mason Plumlee ($4,817,917) 2
- Nick Richards ($1,782,621) 4
- Total: $14,200,538
Restricted Free Agents
Miles Bridges ($7,921,300 qualifying offer / $16,264,479 cap hold): Bird rights- Cody Martin ($2,228,276 qualifying offer / $2,228,276 cap hold): Bird rights
- Total (cap holds): $18,492,755
Two-Way Free Agents
- Arnoldas Kulboka ($1,616,044 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
- Scottie Lewis ($1,616,044 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $3,232,088
Draft Picks
- No. 13 overall pick ($4,069,080)
- No. 15 overall pick ($3,672,120)
- No. 45 overall pick (no cap hold)
- Total: $7,741,200
Extension-Eligible Players
Note: These are players who are either already eligible for an extension or will become eligible before the 2022/23 season begins.
- Gordon Hayward (veteran)
- Jalen McDaniels (veteran) 5
- Mason Plumlee (veteran)
- Nick Richards (veteran)
- P.J. Washington (rookie scale)
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Montrezl Harrell ($12,637,170 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- Isaiah Thomas ($1,811,516 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $8,684,044
Offseason Cap Outlook
The Hornets could theoretically open up some cap room, but it would require, at the very least, letting Bridges walk. That seems unlikely.
If we assume Bridges will be back and Charlotte will have to account for some combination of Oubre, Plumlee, McDaniels, Martin, and its first-round picks, it’s more likely that team salary will approach luxury tax territory rather than being below the cap.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Mid-level exception: $10,349,000 6
- Bi-annual exception: $4,050,000 6
Footnotes
- Oubre’s salary will become fully guaranteed after June 30.
- Plumlee’s salary will become fully guaranteed after June 21.
- McDaniels’ salary will remain non-guaranteed until August 1 even if his option is exercised.
- Richards’ salary will become fully guaranteed after July 7.
- McDaniels would only be eligible if his option is exercised.
- These are projected values. If the Hornets decide to go under the cap and use cap room, they’ll forfeit these exceptions and instead gain access to the room exception ($5,329,000). If the Hornets approach or cross the tax line, they may not have access to the full mid-level exception and/or bi-annual exception and would instead be limited to the taxpayer mid-level exception ($6,392,000).
Salary and cap information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post.
Time to move on from Hayward. He needs to come off the bench as a sixth man. Manage his mins and he can help a team that way. The guy is hurt every yr. He should go to Indiana and finish his career there. He’s still a big draw there. And they would support him.
Bouknight and Jones are great talents imo. Plus they have two solid picks this yr. Turner would be a great addition. If they could get him.
Give up those picks and Hayward for both Brogdon and Turner. Can move Brogdon in a 3way.
Lakers fans need to 100% abandon the idea hornets will throw in pj Washington in a Hayward Russ deal ! Not happening
CHA has some really good talent, but I don’t like the fit or roster configuration. Ball and Bridges are the only certain keepers. They need to surround Ball with some physical 2 way wing players. I’d put Hayward and Rozier, and certainly Bouknight, in the trade bait category. On Bridges they need to decide if he’s a 3/4 or 4/3. That would help them decide whether PJ is a keeper, or trade bait. C, who knows? Jones wasn’t expected to take a complete redshirt year, but I didn’t follow CHA closely enough to know what his story is. I think #13 and #15 are decently positioned picks in this draft, though certainly below the level where they get one of the top wings. I think they should be open to moving them in the right deal. But, if they can, it might make more sense to move some current players and draft guys who fit with whatever new system the new HC intends to install, which hopefully will encompass defense as some kind of priority.
Probably another iron year team here
My hope is that MJ just doesn’t try to push too fast here as the long term downside probably exceeds the short term upside. Probably better off just waiting to deal Hayward next year
All eyes are on the C position as well but I wouldn’t overpay. Going to be a saturated C market next 2 years no need to force anything
Agreed. I’d be holding onto picks for an eventual “second star” trade down the line, assuming LaMelo continues to improve.
Mortgaging assets for a center seems ill-advised
Charlotte gotta get better defensively & they gotta retain Miles. Bringing Miles back is the easy part. Getting better on defense is gonna have to be addressed multiple ways. Hiring a guy that players will lay it all on the line for, like Vanterpool, would help them defensively just by upping the effort level… Selling low on Hayward is definitely bad business & I would hold on to him for the time being. His value will be much higher at the trade deadline. If Charlotte is looking to make a splash they could send Hayward & PJ Washington along with the 15 overall pick to NY for Randle, Nerlens & a future 2nd. Charlotte goes full lefty with Oubre, Miles & Randle while Nerlens adds some rim protection/length down low. NYK moves on from Randle to another young UK forward PJ Washington & brings in Hayward who’s steady manner is a much better fit for the young Knicks than the mercurial Randle… the Hornets could use their remaining 1st (13) on a slick, versatile wing like MarJon Beauchamp or his former teammate Dyson Daniels… Trading Bouknight for Kira Lewis Jr could be a smooth move for both youngsters & both teams if Lewis is healthy enough to play 68+ gms this season… Melo/Terry/Miles/Randle/Nerlens is an improved, balanced starting 5. Kira Lewis, IT, Twin Martin, MarJon, JMcDaniels, Oubre, Kai, Thor & Plumlee is a nice bench too. Sorta thin at guard but Melo & Terry gonna play most of the guard mins anyway.
Straight forgot all about Montrezl. Maybe they resign Trez then trade Plumlee plus a future 1st to OKC for Vasilje Micic or use their MLE on GPII to solve their lack of backcourt depth
The hornets will be a good fit for Mitchell Robinson, good defensive player rebound oriented and strong finish to the basket and could be benefit from the ability of Melo for assist ,and less expensive than Ayton, and also a defensive oriented coach maybe from old school like Vangundy.
Van Gundy will never be a HC again. Robinson would be a good sign by team. Christian wood is on the market too. He would be a great fit with ball. We shall see.
Plumlee is the team’s only ACC player… I bet they snag another in the draft… Williams if possible.
Washington will have to be paid if kept, and he’s a combo forward like Bridges.
Considering this team needs defense hiring Vogel or Atkinson might not be a bad idea…
Ball and Bridges are both really good – now CHA needs to hope they both continue to improve into high All Star low All NBA territory. That’s probably the biggest question for CHA moving fwd: what does LaMelo’s ceiling look like?
So I feel like I wouldn’t make any huge moves around the periphery this off-season unless there’s just a deal too good to pass up. But Gordon will be off the books soon. Rozier may not be the best fit but he’s still a solid player.
And the rest of their guys probably don’t have a ton of trade value. Going for someone like Mitch Rob might make some sense.