Charlotte Hornets: Building a dream offseason

The Charlotte Hornets are coming off a season in which the organization can feel good that they overachieved but at the same time can only be disappointed that the season ended as sourly as it did. You can point fingers in a lot of directions, the pile-up of injuries at the tail end would be the direction I lean. However, it’s no secret that the Hornets are still a long way out from being a true contender. This is a massive offseason for Mitch Kupchak and this Hornets team and could be pivotal in the direction that we go moving forward.

The Hornets are a youthful squad, statistically fielding one of the younger squads in the NBA. The fact that they found themselves in a play-in game this year is a testament to the great work head coach James Borrego and his coaching staff has done with player development since arriving. The front office will be hoping to continue to add solid young players to the young core that they’ve already built.

This young core being led by no other than rookie of the year winner, LaMelo Ball. After finally striking some lottery luck in 2020, a year later the Hornets are finding themselves in a wonderful situation with Ball leading the charge. In his rookie campaign, Ball did things many of us thought he wouldn’t be doing until this 2nd or 3rd year in the league. Hitting shots consistently before the injury, attacking the rim successfully, creating on his own against high-level defenders. These were all things that were marked as red flags going into the draft and he showed almost immediately that he has these tools in his bag. Combine that with the elite playmaking, height, and length, and the Hornets are looking at someone who can be a primary initiator on a playoff team in the future.

Along with Ball, the Hornets have Miles Bridges (23), who reached new heights this year (literally). PJ Washington (22), a player a lot of people have a lot of high hopes for who didn’t have a stellar season but is still a pillar of consistency. Malik Monk (23) and Devonte’ Graham (26) who they will likely have to choose between, and a cast of young rotation players still trying to carve out their role in the league. In addition to the youth movement, Charlotte has added a couple of savvy veteran scorers in Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier, both of whom looked like they could receive some all-star votes at some point during the season.

Kupchak and the gang aren’t going to be able to get every player on their wishlist. It never happens that way. Heck, fans may not get a single guy they deem worthy to don the purple and teal. Let’s have some fun, and map out what we think a brilliant offseason from the Hornets could look like.

Players the Hornets will say goodbye to in free agency

Before we jump into the additions we need to say our farewells. Some of these will not be easy, some… very easy. This will help us have a clear idea of what our roster will look like when it’s time to draft and enter free agency.

The projected salary cap is looking to be at $112 million with a luxury tax cap of $136.6 million. These numbers can change, but we’ll be using them now to play GM in this article.

Here’s who I have departing the great city of Charlotte.

Devonte’ Graham – Guard

I told you, some of these are not easy, and this is the big one. The Hornets will likely have to choose between Graham and Malik Monk this offseason. Both players have their pros and cons, and both are players that Hornets fans have grown to love. Graham is three years older than Monk and may end up getting a nice offer from a contending team that the Hornets would be wise not to match at this stage.

Cody Zeller – Center

The longest-tenured Hornet’s reign must come to an end this season. While we appreciate all the blood and broken bones that Zeller has given for this team, it’s probably best for both parties that they go their separate ways. The Hornets need to get younger and healthier at center and the skillset that Zeller brings isn’t all that desirable on this current squad. He’ll be a fine third big for a contender next season.

Bismack Biyombo – Center

Likely the easiest decision on this list. Biyombo re-signed last season on a very team-friendly deal. I thought that would be fine, but I also thought he’d just be the glue guy, the vet locker room presence that the Hornets needed with a young squad. Never did I think he would be getting as many minutes in crucial games as he did.

Brad Wanamaker – Guard

We salute Wanamaker for his services this season. He got a lot of hate when he first joined the Hornets at the trade deadline. Mainly because many were expecting something bigger, literally. Wanamaker carved himself out a nice role on the squad and was a key player in keeping us in the hunt when the injuries started to pile up on the squad. At 32 years old, I see no reason to keep him around for another season.

Nate Darling – Guard

Darling has spunk and a nice shot but not enough to make it into camp next season.

Free Agents that the Charlotte Hornets should re-sign

The remaining two free agents should be cheap for the Hornets to bring back and are all developmental pieces, nothing crazy here.

Malik Monk – Guard (Qualifying offer, 1 year – $7m)

As stated in the previous slide, we had to choose between one of Devonte’ Graham and Malik Monk. Monk being three years younger than Graham and having far more potential seems to be a solid choice. He’s had a couple of slips and falls since being in the league that has led to him not being as consistent a player as the Hornets would like, but Monk has shown that when he’s on, he’s ON. In a dream world, he’s the perfect spark plug that the Hornets need coming off the bench. He proved this season that at his best, he might be the most dangerous player on this team.

Grant Riller – Guard (Qualifying offer, 1 year – 1.4m)

There’s still some hope for #DraftTwitter when it comes to Grant Riller. He didn’t show us much in his debut season, but maybe a full off-season, summer league, and the departure of Graham could see Riller get some spot minutes with the Hornets.

Charlotte Hornets dream mock draft

Now that the draft lottery has come and gone, the Hornets know their spot and can proceed as they see fit. Like any draft, there are a lot of directions the Hornets could go here. The most glaring need during the season and certainly after our re-signing period is a center. Unfortunately for us, unless Evan Mobley slides to 11 (not happening), or we trade up into the top three (probably not happening), there arguably isn’t a center that solves our problems worth taking at that 11th pick. You could argue for the Turkish big man Alperen Şengün. I’m a fan of his, but he’s lacking in probably the 2 most desirable traits for us at the position, defense and shooting ability to stretch the floor. You could consider it a reach at 11 depending on who’s available, so we’re going to hold on center for now since we’re dreaming, not reaching.

It’s very critical that Charlotte’s main priority while drafting in the lottery is to find their second star. We can’t be safe and pick someone who’s ceiling isn’t high, that can only get us so far. Which leads me to this pick.

Hornets select Keon Johnson – Wing, with the 11th overall pick.

Instead, Charlotte decides to continue to trust their player development program and select Tennessee wing, Keon Johnson, who ends up slipping just a tad bit in this dream draft. Johnson is a player who can immediately step into this Hornets rotation and have a positive impact with his defensive ability and elite athleticism. Johnson needs work as a shooter, but the rest of his game is something we’ve been missing in this squad for several years now. He does however have a lot of promise as a shooter.

He’s a guy who has the potential to step out and guard the opposing team’s best guard or wing, something we desperately need with our current backcourt. At his best he can potentially guard 1-4. He navigated screens exceptionally well and proved to be a more than adequate team defender.

Offensively he thrived at Tennessee as a cutter, team that up with LaMelo Ball’s elite playmaking and Johnson can make some noise in this Hornets lineup. As you see in that tweet above, he recently broke the NBA combine max vertical jump record with 48″. The lob threat with him and Miles Bridges is extremely dangerous with Ball pulling the strings.

Hornets select Greg Brown – Forward, with the 56th pick.

I was under the impression Greg Brown was a late first-rounder, early second-round prospect until ESPN’s Jonathan Givony had him mocked at 53. It’s possible, so we’ll dream it. A super athletic forward who’s got some potential as a shooter and small ball rim protector. The type of player Charlotte could be looking for to give them some big man minutes. At 56, I would call this a steal.

Hornets select Neemias Queta – Big, with the 57th pick.

With our final pick in the draft, we’re going to take the Utah St. big fella, Neemias Queta. An extremely active defensive player and standing at a true 7 feet tall, Queta has the potential to be a true rim protector. He also possesses unique playmaking ability which could work very well with the short roll that the Hornets love to run. Queta is the only major NCAA player in the last 10 years to average 2.5 assists and 2.5 blocks a game.

Charlotte Hornets dream free agency

For the first time in a long time, the Hornets have a decent amount of cap space to work with going into free agency. About $33.6 million according to the handy dandy trade machine & cap manager tool at fanspo.com. (This may not be 100% accurate but it’s the easiest way for me to properly map this out). Unfortunately for us, we aren’t exactly a hot destination just yet, and also there aren’t many guys star-studded guys in this free agency who we could drool over. Kawhi Leonard could opt out of his player option, I doubt that, and that’s a little far-fetched even in terms of dreams. Although the city of Charlotte would suit a guy like Leonard perfectly, I digress.

Here’s how the roster is looking before we jump into the free agency pool.

• PG – LaMelo Ball, Grant Riller
• SG – Terry Rozier, Malik Monk, Caleb Martin
• SF – Gordon Hayward, Keon Johnson (R), Cody Martin, Jalen McDaniels
• PF – Miles Bridges, Greg Brown (R)
• C – P.J. Washington, Carey Jr., Nick Richards, Neemias Queta (R)

Now let’s spend this money.

Hornets sign Richaun Holmes – Big (4 years – $55m)

At long last, Charlotte finally gets their guy. Richaun Holmes is the ideal big man for the Hornets and someone we’ve been linked to over the last few months with trade rumors. My main concern with him is the contract. Reportedly he wants somewhere in the realm of 4 years $80m. That’s simply not happening as long as I’m in charge, in this dream $55m is enough to satisfy the big man.

Holmes brings just about everything we’re looking for from a big. Athleticism, defense, lob threat, soft hands. He isn’t Shaq, disappointing, I know! However, he’ll get the job done and can be an instrumental piece for this Hornets team. At 27 years old he’s around the perfect age to plug into this young squad bringing a little bit of a veteran presence and is also young enough to continue to grow with the team.

Hornets sign Austin Rivers – Guard (2 years – $20m)

I’m not sure how much Rivers will cost. This is a guy who sat out almost the entire season, signed with the Denver Nuggets, and then ended up starting and playing a boatload of minutes on that team during the playoffs, all while guarding Damian Lillard and Devin Booker most of the time by the way. I’d be surprised if Denver let him go, but let’s say they do. A vet guard with playoff experience, a good shooter, solid on defense. I’ll take him, here’s the MLE.

Hornets sign Daniel Theis – Big (2 years – $18m)

We could still use one more big on the roster, preferably one who can step back and knock down a shot. Theis fits that role. He’d be another vet player with playoff experience who can step in, spell Holmes, and provide some good minutes for the Hornets.

The final roster

After the draft and free agency we’ve got 18 players heading into the camp, the NBA allows 20 so there will likely be two more in real life. We’ll ignore that for now and assume those players don’t make the team. We’ve gotta trim it down to 15 players plus two 2-Way players for the regular season.

More from Draft

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• What each Charlotte Hornets draft pick brings to the team for 2024
• Why the Charlotte Hornets cannot afford to pass on Scoot Henderson
• Hornets Beware: 7 Biggest busts at pick No. 2 in NBA Draft history
• 3 Tough offseason decisions the Charlotte Hornets will be forced to make

Here’s how the lineup can look.

• PG – LaMelo Ball, Austin Rivers, Grant Riller
• SG – Terry Rozier, Malik Monk, Caleb Martin
• SF – Gordon Hayward, Keon Johnson (R), Cody Martin, Jalen McDaniels
• PF – Miles Bridges, P.J. Washington, Greg Brown (R 2-Way)
• C – Richaun Holmes, Daniel Theis, Vernon Carey Jr., Neemias Queta (R 2-Way)

This means we’re saying our goodbyes to Nick Richards. With the additions of Brown, Queta, Holmes, and Theis, there’s just no place for Richards on this roster.

Side note: P.J. Washington could still start, but since I just gave Holmes the bag he’ll get the first nod.

To recap, the Hornets add some experienced vets in free agency and draft high-potential guys. The hope is that your core from last season is good enough again to push for a playoff spot, this time however we’ll have legitimate bigs and a guard who’s been there and played in the biggest moments. The return of Gordon Hayward will also be instrumental this season. A lot of fans have called to trade him, while I would entertain it, I think it’s best we sit tight.

Realistically speaking, this isn’t a championship-winning team, we’re still a step away, but it’s a team who can make some noise and compete in the playoffs. It’s all in the hands of LaMelo Ball right now, if he continues to grow on his exceptional rookie season, we should be sitting pretty.

My hope is that Keon Johnson can grow into that second star that we need. If that’s expedited, I believe this roster could very well do some big things if not this year then most certainly the next.