Mason Plumlee is likely eager to prove himself to the Charlotte Hornets organization and its fans after a lackluster first stint with the team from 2021 to 2023. However, a big fragment of the Hornets faithful probably isn't excited about the summer addition.
James Plowright of CLTre.org recently ran a survey for the franchise's fans, and 63.2 percent of the respondents, who numbered nearly 600, answered that its worst move was not finding a better center in the market. Funnily enough, the second-most voted response (16.7 percent) to that question was the signing of Plumlee and Spencer Dinwiddie.
As some may be aware, Charlotte had the means to bring in a seemingly better big man than Plumlee, as it had a stash of draft capital it could have utilized in a trade and a non-taxpayer mid-level exception (around $14.1 million) to lure a free agent to the Queen City. Instead, the front office opted to go for the 35-year-old veteran, a move that has clearly not sat well with a significant portion of the fan base.
To be fair, Hornets coach Charles Lee does not appear to have a problem with the squad's current platoon of fives consisting of Plumlee, Moussa Diabate, and Ryan Kalkbrenner. Of course, the trio can even surprise the NBA world by faring much better than anticipated, although the odds of that happening look pretty slim.
Mason Plumlee has a lot on his plate this season
With Plumlee already nearing the end of his playing career, it's tough to envision him being a productive player for the Hornets. He did register a total rebound percentage of 19.5 percent, underscoring his ability to clean the glass, and a 61.4 percent shooting clip in the 2024-25 campaign. However, if his numbers and performance, even in limited minutes, do not stand out this year, he can expect at least some outrage from fans.
The former first-round pick could also end up frustrating fans even if he spends more time on the bench than on the floor, especially if rebounding and interior defense turn out to be a couple of Charlotte's weaknesses. Such a scenario could strengthen the argument that the organization should have given his roster spot to a more deserving player.
If it isn't obvious yet, he has quite an unenviable task of disproving the notion that his arrival was the worst move of the Hornets' 2025 offseason. The only way to put an end to the criticisms is by making meaningful contributions on and off the court. Perhaps Diabate and Kalkbrenner progressing much earlier than anticipated could also make people look past the Plumlee signing.
Maybe I'm just reading too much into it, as the journeyman's stay in Charlotte is unlikely to extend beyond next summer, and his cap hit should be negligible. Let's just hope the Hornets won't end up regretting not pursuing a substantially better upgrade at center than Plumlee.