Charlotte Hornets: Jeremy Lin to the Nets
After the first day of free agency, the Charlotte Hornets can no longer claim the marketing appeal of Linsanity.
We knew that the Charlotte Hornets were going to lose people in free agency. Sure enough Day 1 of the free agency period has resulted in the departure of Jeremy Lin and Al Jefferson to other teams. Jefferson was always an outside shot to return due to the evolution of the Hornets away from his main game. Lin was looking more and more likely to leave as the bidding rose.
Al Jefferson has signed a three year thirty million dollar deal with the Indiana Pacers according to reports from Marc Stein of ESPN. This means that Jefferson understood he would have to take a pay cut (from $13.5 million to $10 million) and the Hornets still were not interested at that lower figure.
The Pacers will offer some opportunities for Jefferson. Their main big men from last year are free agents, so Jefferson could walk into the starting job. Since Paul George has shown reluctance in becoming a stretch four man, the Pacers could put Jefferson next to Myles Turner in the post. Jefferson will also be able to mentor Turner.
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Lin will be headed to the Brooklyn Nets under a three year $36 million deal according to reports from Marc Stein of ESPN. He will be the unquestioned star for a team that is still turning over large portions of its roster. Playing time and money seem to have trumped winning for this particular Lin decision. Of their former big performers, the Nets still have Brook Lopez.
The loss of Jefferson does not alter the Hornets’ off season plans in any particular way. If they go find another big man, it will most likely be one with more defensive game anyway. That person will also have to come at a good price. So it probably would not be Al Horford. Horran Cameron of the Old North Banter as his own ideas on replacements.
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The loss of Lin will force the Hornets to pick up a backup point guard of some kind. Price will be an issue there too since players like Matthew Dellavedova have been getting paid handsomely in the land of the new salary cap. The Hornets should target guys like Jerryd Bayless and Jarrett Jack to fill the void.
Talking about what was lost is only natural, but this is the same day that saw the Hornets retain Nicolas Batum and therefore keep their identity from last year’s playoff team intact.
Next: Al Jefferson signs with Indiana
The first day of free agency has seen some wild deals. Dwight Howard joined the Hawks. Chandler Parsons joined the Grizzlies. Big money has been flying around. The Hornets still have work to do to keep expectations high for next season.