The Hornets have picked up their 2023/24 rookie scale team options on third-year All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball, as well as second-year players James Bouknight and Kai Jones, reports Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer.
Boone notes that the decision was widely expected. While Ball, the No. 3 draft pick in 2020, has already emerged as the focal point of Charlotte’s offense, 6’5″ shooting guard Bouknight has worked his way into the team’s rotation under returning head coach Steve Clifford, thanks in part to injuries incurred by Terry Rozier and Cody Martin. The 6’11” Jones, a power forward/center, is the team’s third-string five behind Mason Plumlee and Nick Richards.
Ball, 21, has yet to play for the 2-2 Hornets this season as he continues to work his way back from an ankle injury. The 6’7″ guard posted averages of 20.1 PPG, 7.6 APG, 6.7 RPG, and 1.6 BPG across 75 games last year, and was named an All-Star injury replacement by the league. In 2021/22, Ball posted .429/.389/.872 shooting splits. His 2023/24 option is worth approximately $10.9MM.
Across four games thus far in his sophomore season, Bouknight is averaging 5.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG and 1.5 APG in 15.5 MPG. The No. 11 pick in 2021 out of Connecticut has been coming off the bench for Charlotte. His stint with the Hornets thus far has not been without its off-the-court issues. Just prior to the start of the 2022/23 season, Bouknight was arrested for a DWI, making him the third Charlotte player overall to be arrested during the 2022 offseason. His $4.57MM salary for 2023/24 is now locked in.
Jones, the No. 19 pick out of Texas in last year’s draft, has seen spot minutes in two contests this season, averaging just 3.0 MPG. Richards, the No. 42 pick out of Kentucky in 2020, has had a robust start to his third NBA season. His minutes averages have leapt up from 7.3 in 2021/22 to 21.8, and he is averaging 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG for the Hornets, effectively squeezing Jones out of the team’s rotation for now. He’ll still earn a guaranteed $3.05MM in ’23/24.
All NBA clubs have until this coming Monday, October 31, to exercise their team options on players’ rookie scale deals. All of those decisions are listed here.
Now the hornets look are in the right way.
Hornets are the worst team in the league trying to win games. It’s not like they are trying to tank and lose games to get a top draft pick they think they are good but they suck.
They need to just realise what they have now can’t get it done and if they tank for a year or two they could turn it around.
Do the Russ trade and get back some first round picks for Hayward and Rozier. Have Oubre and Plumblee on the trade market and see what you could get for them. Buy Russ out of his deal and sign Kemba. Kemba would be a solid veteran presence for this team, he knows the staff and the FO, the fans love him and he could teach the young guys a bunch. In order to keep Melo happy in a tanking season sign his brother Gelo to a minimum 1 year deal and give him a chance.
Then come the offseason. Russ’s money will be off the books, you have extra first round picks from that deal. You have a top 5 pick from tanking and hopefully can add another franchise player to go with Melo.
Hopefully with a year of develop and opportunity to the young guys one of them steps up to be a third star”
That guy could be Bouk, Washington, McDaniels, Richards or Williams.
On top of that the Russ money is off the books. You could go after a big name in FA to play with Melo or just build a good amount of depth.
Either way you should be ready to turn it around and start trying to win games again. Plus you’d have a much better side because of it
Would love to have Bouknight starting at the 2 for Knicks. Get your act together bro.
Ill never understand so called fans hating on a 19-24 yr old. How you can give up and literally hate on a player. Just cause he doesn’t reach expectations. Its beyond my understanding.
Its never over till its over. If you were a 1st rd pick. Then you have the talent to make a rotation. At some point in your career.
Dennis Smith Jr (24 yrs old) at MSG.
36.37 mins, 14 pts, 11 ast, 3 reb, 2 stl, 1 TO
Yogi is smiling ……..
I’d love to see Bouk and Kemba coming off the bench together for the hornets.
Kemba being the vet could teach him so much. He knows the team inside and out, the fans love him, he’s a former all star and all nba player I believe. Bouk could pick up so much from him and hopefully turn it around off the court too.