3 Free agents the Charlotte Hornets should immediately pursue to pair with Brandon Miller
By Adam Taylor
3. Juan Toscano-Anderson
Currently, Gordon Hayward is the leading veteran on the Charlotte Hornets’ roster, and he just so happens to occupy the same position on the court as Brandon Miller. Furthermore, Hayward’s presence in the locker room is often missing due to his injury struggles throughout his tenure with the team. And right now, there’s no telling whether Charlotte will be bringing Kelly Oubre Jr. back for next season.
As such, it makes sense that Charlotte would look to add some grit to their bench, especially in the form of Juan Toscano-Anderson, who has clawed his way into the NBA and found a way to stick around.
Assuming that Miller is thrust into the starting line-up next season, Toscano-Anderson would provide some reliable backup when Hayward misses games – or if he is traded during the offseason. Yet, it’s the mentality that Toscano-Anderson brings which would hold the most value, especially after spending the second half of the 2022-23 season with the overachieving Utah Jazz.
In 22 games for Will Hardy’s team, Toscano-Anderson averaged 15.2 minutes of playing time, scoring 3.4 points, grabbing 2.9 rebounds, and dishing out 1.8 assists on 40.3% shooting from the floor. Furthermore, Toscano-Anderson is capable of playing across multiple positions, having spent 27% of his career minutes as a shooting guard, 51% as a small forward, 21% at the power forward spot, and 1% as a small-ball center.
In the modern NBA, having players who can undertake different roles and play in different positions is integral. As such, Toscano-Anderson’s play style, positional versatility, and presence within the locker room all make for a good, cost-controlled addition. After all, the fourth-year wing is only earning $1.9 million this season and would easily fit into the Bi-Annual exception if he agreed to a similar pay scale.