Why the Charlotte Hornets need to re-sign Devonte’ Graham

With the 2020-21 NBA regular season coming to a close, the Charlotte Hornets must consider what they will do with the roster this off-season. Many young players have stepped up this season, but Charlotte will need to be careful with cap space.

One player that has really stepped up as of late is Devonte’ Graham. With his recent play, he’s definitely earned the chance to be re-signed by the Hornets.

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This season, Graham has spent time in the starting unit and coming off the bench. Graham was replaced in the starting unit by LaMelo Ball, but he’s made a strong impact off the bench.

Graham has appeared in 52 games for Charlotte. He’s averaged 14.8 points, 5.4 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game. He’s even managed to shoot a career-high of 38% from the three-point range. Graham is currently the Hornets’ fourth-best scorer.

Earlier in the season, Graham struggled to find his shot, which, along with roster injuries, opened the door to Ball getting the chance to earn the starting job over him. Since the All-Star break, Graham has proved why he’s one of the team’s best shooters.

Graham’s most impressive game of the season came on Tuesday night against the Denver Nuggets. Even though the Hornets could not pull off a win, Graham gave the team a chance in the fourth quarter. He finished this game with 31 points and seven made threes.

Graham has significantly improved the Hornet’s bench. Charlotte could bring him back on a feasible deal to keep their bench strong heading into next season.

For the past six seasons, the Hornets have not had a consistent backup point guard on their roster. Re-signing Graham easily gives them a consistent shooter and playmaker who plays well with other teammates.

While re-signing Graham is an issue, the Hornets will also need to take a look at Malk Monk, who’s also a restricted free agent. Nevertheless, Charlotte cannot afford to lose some of its biggest offensive contributors.