This offseason has seen some players reunite with their former teams, including Damian Lillard going home to the Portland Trail Blazers and Chris Paul returning to the LA Clippers. Even the Charlotte Hornets saw Mason Plumlee make a comeback, which many fans were not entirely thrilled about.
While the Hornets have a definitive need for reinforcement for their center depth, probably only a few foresaw that Plumlee would be the solution, especially when other alternatives were available in free agency. It's not that the veteran is hardly serviceable anymore. Some fans just can't seem to get over their disdain for him, even if the last time he wore the purple and teal was two years ago.
Come to think of it, Plumlee isn't public enemy No. 1 in Charlotte. There are other former Hornets players that fans would be up in arms if the front office decides to bring them back.
Terry Rozier
Arguably the most obvious entry on this list, Terry Rozier not being welcome in Buzz City doesn't stem from his time with the Hornets. He was solid enough when he suited up for the squad, even helping it log its only winning season (2021-22) in the last nine campaigns. It doesn't even appear that the fan base was affected that much when the 31-year-old guard implied that losing is in Charlotte's DNA. He tried to make up for it by changing his tune last year.
However, Rozier is currently embroiled in a gambling scandal, with ESPN recently reporting his apparent involvement in unusual betting during a specific game late in the 2022-23 campaign when he was still a Hornet. A total of $13,579 was reportedly placed in 46 minutes on 30 wagers on the unders on his statistics, with all of the bets winning.
Investigations are still underway, and Rozier has yet to be charged with any crime, but Charlotte is likely better off closing its doors to a reunion. The fact that the team already has incredible depth at the backcourt should also dissuade it from pursuing the current Miami Heat player.
James Bouknight
Some Hornets fans might recoil at the mention of James Bouknight's name. The former lottery pick was supposed to help the franchise turn things around when he arrived via the 2021 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, he ended up being a bust while also proving to be a headache for Charlotte because of his legal issues.
The Hornets couldn't even recoup some value out of him, as they opted to waive him near the trade deadline of the 2023-24 campaign. They probably tried to ship him elsewhere, but it wouldn't be surprising if no other organization were interested in bringing him and his baggage in.
Kelly Oubre Jr.
While Kelly Oubre Jr.'s contributions, particularly his penchant for getting buckets, during his two-year stint with Charlotte were commendable, he just wasn't the right fit with the team at the time. He once mentioned having fun playing for the Hornets, but that there was just "no hope" for the franchise.
A new ownership group and front-office management have provided Charlotte with some optimism, though, and Oubre Jr. must be thrilled to see his former employer start to turn things around. Still, he shouldn't expect a reunion anytime soon, as the Hornets and their fans would rather not see his inefficient offense potentially holding them back.
Nicolas Batum
There are several reasons Nicolas Batum currently seems to be the most hated man across the Hornets fan base. After a solid start to his tenure with the club, his production gradually regressed to the point that his contract was labeled one of the worst in the entire league.
The French veteran looked on his way out of the NBA before agreeing to a waive-and-stretch provision in 2020 with the organization, paying him a then-record $9 million per year for three more seasons. As it turned out, he caught a second wind with the Clippers, vexing many among the Hornets faithful who had waited for him to show more effort on the floor and live up to the five-year, $120 million deal with which the front office re-signed him.
The 36-year-old is unlikely to consider returning to Charlotte before retiring, and the Hornets certainly feel the same way about a potential but highly improbable reunion.