Swarm and Sting
Fansided

Five players signed past their prime in the second Hornets era

James Mastrucci|
Oct 10, 2014; Greenville, SC, USA; The new Charlotte Hornets logo on the back of the warm ups prior to the game against the Washington Wizards at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2014; Greenville, SC, USA; The new Charlotte Hornets logo on the back of the warm ups prior to the game against the Washington Wizards at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
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SACRAMENTO, CA – JANUARY 02: Michael Carter-Williams #10 of the Charlotte Hornets drives towards the basket against the Sacramento Kings during an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on January 2, 2018 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – JANUARY 02: Michael Carter-Williams #10 of the Charlotte Hornets drives towards the basket against the Sacramento Kings during an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on January 2, 2018 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Michael Carter-Williams 2017

The Charlotte Hornets were willing to take a risk by signing 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams, but it did not pay off. While considering a 26-year-old to be past his prime may seem a bit aggressive, Carter-Williams was on a steep decline performance-wise by the time he landed in Charlotte.

There appeared to still be some promise for Carter-Williams, while he was in Philadelphia and Milwaukee but it was his season in Chicago where concerns about his viability as a player came into question. Carter-Williams would fail to average more than 10 points per game after the 2015-16 season, with his first year in Charlotte being the beginning of that trend.

The former 11th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft had one of the worst years of his entire career in Charlotte. Carter-Williams averaged just 4.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 16.1 minutes per game. Carter-Williams’ only season in Charlotte would end due to injury, something that has become a recurring theme in the now 31-year-old’s career.

Carter-Williams has appeared in just 108 games since his brief time with the Hornets, averaging 6.9 points in 19 minutes per game for the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic.