The Charlotte Hornets will likely be active during the free agency period, which begins on June 30 at 6 PM Eastern. For Charlotte and multiple other team’s around the league, free agency provides a platform to continue building out your roster as you look to improve on the performances of recent seasons.
Improving the Hornets’ offense shouldn’t be too difficult. After all, we’re talking about a team that finished dead last in offensive rating last season while being nothing better than a middling defensive team. However, not every move will happen within the opening hours of free agency. Players will want to weigh their options while teams will be carrying out their due diligence.
Having a plan is smart, though. Knowing who you’re going to target allows you to get off on the right foot. Being one of the first teams to reach out to a player shows that you’re interest is genuine and that they sit atop your ideal candidates.
There’s also work to be done closer to home. You can begin discussing potential contract terms with impending free agents and weighing up potential additions via sign-and-trades or extend-and-trade so that you don’t risk losing players for nothing.
Will all this being said, here are three things the Hornets should do as soon as the free agency period gets underway.
#1 Charlotte Hornets extend PJ Washington a qualifying offer
By extending PJ Washington a qualifying offer, he will become a restricted free agent, giving the Charlotte Hornets rights to a first refusal on any contract offer he signs elsewhere. Washington has developed his game since being drafted 12th overall in 2019.
This past season, Washington became a full-time starter for the Hornets, playing in 73 regular-season games. During those outings, the Kentucky native averaged 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 44.4% from the field and 34.8% from deep.
Ensuring Washington has the ability to match any offer sheet Washington signs is smart business from the front office and will likely be the first task on their to-do list once the free agency period gets underway. After all, it would be negligent not to at least maintain some form of team control over a homegrown talent that continues to improve.