Charlotte Hornets: Xavier Munford Signs with FC Barcelona Lassa

After a great start to 2017 with the Charlotte Hornets’ D-League team, Xavier Munford elected to play overseas and signed a contract with FC Barcelona Lassa.

Despite having made some impressive roster moves over the course of the past week, the Greensboro Swarm said goodbye to perhaps their best and most consistent player. On February 3, the team parted ways with Xavier Munford. He was arguably the Charlotte Hornets‘ top prospect in their D-League system.

The 6-foot-3 guard from the University of Rhode Island was having a terrific year with Greensboro, averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 42 percent from the floor. He also recorded a triple-double (the first ever in Swarm history) during the D-League Showcase weekend, putting up 20 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds in 42 minutes versus the Erie Bayhawks.

No major sports blogs reported the move, but the Swarm elected to buy out his contract, and Munford signed with FC Barcelona Lassa in Spain. Greensboro retained his returning rights, so if Munford comes back to play in the States, he will suit up with the Swarm again. Numerous tweets by various sports writers had hinted at the move as early as February 2, but the move wasn’t made until a day later.

FC Barcelona’s official twitter page announced the signing later that day to confirm the move and remove all doubt.

https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/827503578612895744

As a writer and fan of the Swarm, I am disappointed to see Munford go, and more fans will soon say the same. However, it’s not hard to see why Munford felt like he should leave.

In the past week, the Charlotte Hornets signed Munford’s teammate, Mike Tobey, and Ray McCallum from the Grand Rapids Drive to 10-day contracts. In addition, the Swarm traded away guard Aaron Harrison to the Delaware 87ers for former NC State guard Cat Barber.

Munford would have seen even more of his opportunities taken away, as he had when Harrison and swingman Archie Goodwin were signed. The backcourt was already loaded, and Barber just added more competition.

Munford has every right to be frustrated. He has been the most all-around player on the floor for the Swarm, but constant call-ups and roster moves had resulted in him taking a backseat to players with NBA experience, as well as those who played in the Summer League. Also, fans must not forget that Munford has bounced around for awhile.

After going undrafted in the 2014 draft, Munford was picked up in the D-League Draft and played with the Bakersfield Jam that year. During the 2015 season, he played with the Los Angeles Lakers‘ Summer League Team before returning to Bakersfield.

Finally, he signed two 10-day contracts with the Memphis Grizzlies in March 2016 before signing on for the rest of the year, as the Grizzlies had numerous injuries. After the team parted ways with him, he found himself on Greensboro’s roster.

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More than anything, Munford probably wanted a chance to play in the NBA again. That may very well happen, if and when he decides to return. In the meantime, the fans and organization wish him nothing but the best as he moves forward, and we certainly hope that he will realize his NBA dream again.