Swarm and Sting
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Is there reason to be excited for the Charlotte Hornets’ off-season?

By Elijah Edwards

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 29: PJ Washington #25 of the Charlotte Hornets celebrates on the bench during the first half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 29, 2019, in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 29: PJ Washington #25 of the Charlotte Hornets celebrates on the bench during the first half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 29, 2019, in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets Mitch Kupchak (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

The Charlotte Hornets aren’t in the best situation regarding current contracts, but there is possibly some relief in the near future.

GM Mitch Kupchak has had an unenviable job in trying to fix the Hornets’ salary situation. That being said, most fans have not been happy with the job thus far, but there’s only so much you can do with how bad some of the contracts are.

There’s a bit of relief on the horizon coming this off-season, however. For instance, Bismack Biyombo will be an unrestricted free agent after the season is over.  He made $17 million this season and I highly doubt Charlotte will re-sign him, so there’s that much off the books.

Charlotte still owes Marvin Williams and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist a combined 28 million for this season, but seeing as they were bought out and are now on different teams, this coming season sees that cap space freed up as well. Between those three players, that’s a good amount of money the team can invest in potential free agents.

One problem, however, is that this upcoming free-agent crop isn’t the greatest and even then, Charlotte has very little to entice players to come to the Queen City. Not to mention that there’s still the issue of Nicolas Batum‘s hefty contract. He still has a player option for next year that will see him make over $27 million and you best believe he’ll take that option, much to the chagrin of many a Hornets fan.

As of now, it’d be best to sit on whatever money they can save up, perhaps sign a viable, low-cost free agent or two to fill in some gaps, and continue to develop the young core while supplementing them through the draft. It’s not going to be pretty for a while, but we’ve seen what overspending on low to mid-level players can do.

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