Swarm and Sting
Fansided

Five players signed past their prime in the second Hornets era

By 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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Roy HibbertHornets
CHARLOTTE, NC – OCTOBER 20: Roy Hibbert #55 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts to a call during their game against the Miami Heat at Spectrum Center on October 20, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Roy Hibbert 2016

There was a time when the prospect of the Charlotte Hornets signing Roy Hibbert would have been a reason for excitement among the fanbase. But by the time Hibbert made his way to Charlotte, it was on the back end of his career.

Hibbert appeared in 42 games with 16 starts, both career-lows in 2016-17. He averaged 5.2 points per game, the lowest mark of his career, while his 3.6 rebounds were the lowest since his rookie season with Indiana. At only 30 years old, the 2014 NBA All-Defensive Second Team and two-time All-Star was clearly a shell of his former self.

His time in Charlotte did not last long, as the Hornets dealt him to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Mile Plumlee. Milwaukee then flipped him to the Denver Nuggets for a second-round draft pick in 2019. Hibbert’s six games in Denver were the final of his career, as he ended up retiring in 2018.

The signing of Hibbert made sense at the time for Charlotte, even though it did not work out. Cody Zeller was the primary center for the Hornets, and having an experienced veteran coming off the bench is a valuable asset with the starter entering his third season. While the final result did not work out as expected, it was still a sound process in signing him to a free-agent deal.