Swarm and Sting
Fansided

Charlotte Hornets sign rookie Devonte’ Graham to a three-year deal

By Jerry Stephens

DENVER, CO - JULY 6: Devonte Graham #4 of the Charlotte Hornets shoots the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 6, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 6: Devonte Graham #4 of the Charlotte Hornets shoots the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 6, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

It looks like Devonte’ Graham’s rookie contract with the Charlotte Hornets will be a three-year deal worth around $4 million.

According to Keith Smith of Real GM, “Devonte’ Graham’s contract with the Charlotte Hornets is for three years.” The Queen City team signed the second-round pick to a deal on July 6th ahead of their first summer league game in Las Vegas. The terms of the deal weren’t released but we now know that it was a three-year deal worth about $4 million total.

Charlotte traded up in the 2018 NBA Draft to select Devonte’ in the second-round. They sent two future second-round picks (2019 and 2023) to the Atlanta Hawks in order to acquire the 34th overall pick which they used to get Graham.

BasketballInsiders.com lists his salary at $988k for his rookie season, $1.4 million for the 2019-20 campaign and $1.6 million for his third year in the league. The first two years of his deal are guaranteed while year three is non-guaranteed.

More from Swarm and Sting

The Hornets had to use part of their Mid-Level Exception to sign Devonte’ to a three-year deal. If they would’ve only signed him to a two-year minimum contract, they wouldn’t have had to use their MLE but by signing him for three years, they will hold his bird rights at the end of this deal.

This means that Charlotte can offer Graham a qualifying offer worth $2 million after his third year. That would make him a restricted free agent and give the Hornets the ability to match any offer sheet he may sign with another team.

The 23-year old played four years at the University of Kansas under Bill Self where he was named an AP All-American in 2017-18. The 6’2 point guard will most likely be Charlotte’s third-string point guard during his first season in the league after the Hornets signed Tony Parker to backup Kemba Walker.

There is a chance that Devonte’ could be the backup point guard of their future with TP being a mentor. He will be able to learn a lot with a future Hall of Famer and a two-time all-star playing in front of him and teaching him in practice.

Next: Why Willy Hernangomez will have a breakout season

Mitch Kupchak said that they didn’t think Graham would be available when they picked him at No. 34 so it’s clear that the Charlotte Hornets were targeting Devonte’ ahead of the draft as they met with him at the 2018 NBA Draft Combine and brought him in for a pre-draft workout.

Home/Hornets News