The Charlotte Hornets have had some success in recent years, helping players turn their careers around. The most notable of the group is Dennis Smith Jr., who played well in Charlotte and got back into the league.
With the way they’ve conducted themselves this summer, it’s clear that the Hornets want to continue their rebuild. They aren’t bringing in win-now talent, and instead, they are focused on taking on bad contracts to bring in more draft capital, signaling a desire to focus on youth development.
Because of that, they should be looking to take a chance on young players, and while they don’t have a ton of open roster spots, signing youngsters to take a chance on them would be smart.
5 Leftover free agents Hornets could turn into star role players
Here are five leftover free agents the Hornets should target in hopes of turning them into star role players.
1. Lamar Stevens
Adding some extra forward depth could be a smart idea for the Hornets, and Lamar Stevens would be an interesting get for them. His defense and hustle would be very useful.
Stevens spent this past season with the Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies, as he got traded at the deadline in the deal for Xavier Tillman.
In addition to his on-the-court play, Stevens would bring great leadership to the locker room. Plus, he has a past relationship with Charles Lee, as he played under him in Boston.
Though he’s not the best three-point shooter, Stevens would slot in beautifully as a hustle guy and lead defender at the forward position.
2. Kenyon Martin Jr.
Similar to Lamar Stevens, Kenyon Martin Jr. would be a very fun addition for the Hornets at the forward position, and he could make sense for them on both ends of the court.
Martin Jr. could take on some defensive matchups, but his fit on the offensive end of the court might be even more intriguing. His athleticism would make him an ideal lob threat for LaMelo Ball to work with.
Plus, at just 23 years old, Martin Jr. could still have room to grow as a player, and since the Hornets aren’t looking to win right away, they have time to develop him.
3. Usman Garuba
This might be the most intriguing name on this list. Outside of Mark Williams, the Hornets don’t have a set future at the center position, and Usman Garuba could be the perfect target.
At just 22 years old, he’s still growing as a player, and he just enjoyed a ton of success with the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League last year. In 21 appearances, Garuba averaged 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks while shooting 56.6% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc.
With his defensive talent and growth from deep, Garuba would be a great project player for the Hornets to take on.
4. Oshae Brissett
This idea would be similar to Kenyon Martin Jr., as Oshae Brissett is a great athlete who would make an ideal lob target for LaMelo Ball to throw alley-oops to.
There have been some rumblings that Brissett could return to the Celtics, but he is actively scouring the market in hopes of earning more playing time. Perhaps his former coach, Charles Lee, could help him there.
Brissett is a great athlete and an underrated rebounder for his position. If the Hornets work with him on his shot, he could give them Derrick Jones Jr.-esque minutes.
5. Kessler Edwards
After bouncing back and forth between the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings for the first three years of his career, perhaps the Hornets could provide Kessler Edwards with a slightly more stable home.
The biggest knock on Edwards up to this point in his career has been his lack of a consistent three-ball, but he shot pretty well from deep on very low volume this past year.
At 6-foot-7 and being just 23 years old, Edwards still has room to grow and has the ideal body of an NBA wing. If he can defend at a high level, then the Hornets should take a chance on his three-point shot improving.