Buzz City Beat: Why Melo should join the Charlotte Hornets, Julyan Stone’s journey
Buzz City Beat is Swarm and Sting’s one stop for the latest and greatest news and stories from around the web about the Charlotte Hornets.
Here’s a screengrab of the Hornets’ all-time team from NBA 2K18. In this edition of Buzz City Beat, we look at why Carmelo Anthony should join the Charlotte Hornets, Julyan Stone‘s journey from overseas back to the league and what the addition of Stone means salary-wise for the team.
Why Melo should accept a trade to Charlotte (SirCharlesInCharge.com)
"While the proximity is nice, a trade to Charlotte would make sense from a basketball perspective more than anything else. Charlotte is going all-in to try and make a deep run in the playoffs this season"
Anthony seems focused on a move to the Houston Rockets but if that doesn’t come to fruition, a move to the Queen City could be beneficial for both sides. The Hornets obviously won’t be Carmelo’s first choice but an up and coming team in the East could be an intriguing destination for the 10-time all-star. It would certainly be an improvement from the New York Knicks.
The trade offered up in this article includes Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marvin Williams and a first round pick in exchange for Melo. If I were Charlotte, I’d make that move. Play Anthony at the four and move Nicolas Batum to the three with Malik Monk or Jeremy Lamb starting at shooting guard.
Julyan Stone’s journey back to the NBA (WCNC.com)
"his Italian team, which initially refused to let Stone out of his contract to sign with an NBA team in July, after he had signed an extension. “It was part of the grind to get here,” said Stone. “I’ve never had anything easy, I’ve always had to work and go the extra mile.”"
It’s been a difficult path for Julyan to get back to the league. After last playing in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors in2013-14, he has spent the last three years out of the association. The 28-year old has played in the G-League, Italy and Turkey. Stone said that he did not get paid for eight months while playing in Turkey.
Now that he is stateside, it’s still not the end of the road for Julyan. His father is still dealing with serious health issues and is hospitalized in Maryland but at least he will be closer to him. Stone will also have to prove himself with the Charlotte Hornets as he looks to stick with the team past this season.
What the Stone signing means salary-wise for the Hornets (ESPN.com)
"The $1.5M guaranteed contract of the Hornets Julyan Stone has Charlotte with 13 guaranteed contracts and 18 total on the roster. Charlotte is now $1.79M below the luxury tax."
Next: Could Kaminsky start over Williams this season?
The signing of Julyan will likely be the Hornets’ final move of the summer unless they can complete a trade and stay under the luxury tax line. Michael Jordan has shown in the past that he likes to stay below that line as a small market team. It’s worth noting that the second year of Stone’s contract will become fully guaranteed in August of 2018.