The Charlotte Hornets recently announced the signing of Marcus Garrett, Keyontae Johnson,
Caleb McConnell, and Joel Soriano to Exhibit 10 deals. The contract doesn't assure any of them a roster spot, as the team only has one slot open at the moment.
It's also unclear if the Hornets plan on handing out a two-way deal to any of those prospects.
In addition to the 14 players on the roster, they have also used up two of three of their two-way roster spots on KJ Simpson and Moussa Diabate, both of whom are expected to suit up primarily, at least initially, for Charlotte's G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.
Ranking the Hornets' recent signings based on who could get a roster spot
Still, if the players manage to impress in training camp, they could give the front office a reason to offer one of them a guaranteed contract.
Garrett, Johnson, McConnell, and Soriano could have more than a month to prove their mettle, as Exhibit 10 deals can be converted to a two-way contract before the start of the regular season.
4. Caleb McConnell
Among them, McConnell might be the most unlikely of the foursome to score an upgraded deal with Charlotte. That's not to say that the swingman isn't talented. However, the team's depth at the wings may leave no room for him on the main roster.
Brandon Miller, Josh Green, Cody Martin, and Tre Mann are expected to soak up the minutes at either the shooting guard or small forward spots. Seth Curry could also figure in that battle, especially since he is arguably the squad's most prolific shooter. Nick Smith Jr. might also find himself in the mix, given that he was entrusted with key minutes last season when the injury bug bit the team hard.
Still, McConnell could get some attention from the front office and coaching staff for his potential to be a disruptive defensive presence. He secured various awards suiting up for Rutgers University, including the All-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Lefty Driesell Award.
McConnell had spent the past campaign with the Oklahoma City Thunder's G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, averaging 6.3 points and 5.4 rebounds in the regular season. His playing time dipped in the playoffs, though, where his squad won the championship.
The 25-year-old wing player joined the Hornets' Summer League roster, and he might have done enough for the organization's top brass to bring him in for training camp.
3. Joel Soriano
The only rookie among the Charlotte Hornets' latest signees, Joel Soriano might have a steep hill to climb in order to join the team's primary roster. Still, he appears to be a promising big man despite going undrafted earlier this summer.
However, Charlotte's roster already features Mark Williams, whom the front office noted as a part of the franchise's core nucleus, and Nick Richards, who was its main starting center in the 2023-24 season. Also projected to patrol the paint are Taj Gibson and probably Grant Williams in small-ball lineups. Fellow rookie Tidjane Salaun could see action as the Hornets' pivot as well.
So, Soriano appears to have a long shot at getting promoted. On the other hand, Williams' concerning injury history could factor into that decision.
He has also shown promise as a stretch big man, averaging 13.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game in his final season in college playing for St. John's University. From behind the 3-point line, Soriano shot 43.8%, although he attempted just 16 shots from long distance.
Interestingly, signing the Dominican American would be in keeping with the organization's penchant for adding big men of Caribbean descent. Richards hails from Jamaica, while former embattled center Kai Jones was born in The Bahamas.
2. Marcus Garrett
Of the Charlotte Hornets' four recent signings, Marcus Garrett has appeared in the most NBA games. He made 12 appearances for the Miami Heat in the 2021-22 season as an undrafted rookie before spending most of his pro career in the G League.
The biggest reason Charlotte would even think of signing him to the roster or a two-way deal is his stellar defense. Garrett was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 when he was a junior at the University of Kansas.
He would certainly fill a need for the Hornets, who don't appear to have anyone who can serve as their point-of-attack defender.
Unfortunately, Garrett doesn't bring anything else to the table because he has a pretty inefficient outside shot and hasn't yet shown the ability to create shots for himself or his teammates consistently. Last season, he recorded 10.1 points, 4.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest for the Greensboro Swarm.
The 25-year-old guard had the opportunity to prove himself in this year's Summer League but turned out to be a dud.
If Charlotte is serious about looking for a player capable of effectively covering opposing ball handlers, it might be better off leaving Garrett with the Swarm and bringing back Dennis Smith Jr. The former lottery pick thrived with the Hornets in the 2022-23 campaign and is still available in the free-agent market.
1. Keyontae Johnson
The most likely youngster to join the Charlotte Hornets' roster is 24-year-old swingman Keyontae Johnson. He was a second-round pick in the 2023 draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder, for whom he played nine matches.
The Kansas State University product also suited up for the Thunder's G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue. He played a crucial role in the squad's championship run, starting in all 38 appearances and averaging 19.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest in the regular season.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of Johnson's game in the last campaign was his efficiency, as he shot 53.1% from the field, 40.4% from long range, and 80.0% from the free-throw line. That could help his case in his aspirations of joining the Hornets' main roster.
His determination could also be one of his redeeming qualities. Some folks might remember Johnson as the former University of Florida standout who collapsed on the court during a game against Florida State University in late 2020. After three days in a medically induced coma and further treatment, the Virginia native was able to resume his basketball career.
Johnson certainly has the talent to be a rotation player, but it remains to be seen if he can improve enough to receive an offer from Charlotte in the following weeks.