Charlotte Hornets: Why Jeremy Lamb will be dealt on draft night

Jeremy Lamb has made vast improvements in his game during his time with the Charlotte Hornets; here’s why he won’t be on the roster past June 21st.

The Charlotte Hornets acquired Jeremy Lamb on June 25, 2015, in exchange for Luke Ridnour and a conditional second-round draft pick. The season prior to his acquisition, Lamb struggled to find much traction in Oklahoma City’s rotation. After being drafted with the 12th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Lamb was only receiving 13.5 minutes per game and scoring a mere 6.3 points nightly.

From the time the acquisition was made to the offseason prior to the 2017-18 NBA season, Hornets fans were sold on Lamb’s untapped potential to become a premier scorer. After two seasons of being consistently mediocre off the bench, Lamb finally broke out this season.

Jeremy Lamb averaged 12.9 points and 4.1 rebounds this season. However, what was far more impressive were the vast improvements in areas that fans didn’t necessarily expect. Lamb put up career numbers in three-point percentage (37%), assists (2.3), and field-goal percentage (46%).

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Personally, I found the field-goal percentage increase to be the most impressive, considering Lamb’s shot more than ten shots per game and was tasked with being the primary bench scorer.

All this said, I still believe Lamb to be the most likely Hornet to be traded before, during, or shortly after the draft process. Currently, Lamb is on a one-year, $7 million contract. Cheap, expiring contracts will be extremely hard to come by this offseason, and teams will certainly be calling the Hornets regarding (both) their UConn product(s).

While Lamb’s contract is certainly desirable, he’s also a high-impact player who can play a multitude of positions. Lamb showcased the ability to finally use his length to play defense on players one through three this season. As teams prioritize acquiring proven ‘3-and-D’ players, Jeremy Lamb will have to be near the top of their lists.

In more recent news, Mitch Kupchak has said the team will target a “guard or wing player” on draft night. Management has already stated they would like the younger players, Malik Monk and Dwayne Bacon, to make more of an impact next season. Minutes will be hard to come by if Lamb, Monk, Bacon, MKG, and Batum are all fighting for playing time.

Jeremy Lamb has been a great player for the Charlotte basketball franchise. Watching him grow as a player has been a true joy, as we saw how frustrating the years prior were for him. At just 26-years-old, Jeremy Lamb still has a lot left in the tank, and I expect big things from him in the future, regardless of where he ends up.

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However, the Hornets likely won’t be able to afford to keep Lamb financially next offseason. It makes more sense for the front-office to trade Lamb for a current or future draft pick, rather than watch him walk for nothing next year. Opening up some play-time, cashing in on Lamb’s value, and the probable drafting of another guard or wing player; all signs point to Jeremy Lamb’s eventual departure coming sooner than expected.