3 Players Hornets can sign with the Mid-Level Exception this offseason
By Adam Taylor
#2 The Hornets add upside with Nickeil Alexander-Walker
For one reason or another, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has struggled to find a home in the NBA. After being drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans with the 17th pick in 2019, Alexander-Walker spent 2.5 seasons with the franchise before beginning a new journeyman career trajectory. Since then, Alexander-Walker has represented the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves – being traded twice in the last two seasons.
Now, the Timberwolves have announced that they won’t be extending Alexander-Walker a qualifying offer, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent as a result.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will not extend a qualifying offer to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, league sources told @hoopshype. However, there’s hope he will return to Minnesota.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 29, 2023
Alexander-Walker is the exact type of player the Hornets should be looking to take a chance on as they look to unearth hidden gems to bolster their roster. Last season, Charlotte helped re-establish Dennis Smith Jr. as a genuine rotation player in the NBA. If the Hornets decide to change course with their guard rotation and move on from Smith Jr., Alexander-Walker could be a great buy-low prospect. However, the recent addition of Nick Smith Jr. via the draft may make adding another guard to the rotation rather difficult.
Furthermore, Alexander-Walker could potentially improve Charlotte’s perimeter offense, having averaged 38.4% from deep in 59 games split between the Jazz and Timberwolves. Still, Alexander-Walker took less than two shots per game inside of the perimeter, which means he needs to improve his ability to beat his man off the dribble and force the defense to collapse around him.
Then again, if Alexander-Walker were a complete player, he wouldn’t be entering free agency this summer.