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Charlotte Hornets: Batum Returns

By John Woodcock

Apr 10, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Nicolas Batum (5) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards guard Alan Anderson (6) defends in the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Nicolas Batum (5) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards guard Alan Anderson (6) defends in the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Charlotte Hornets have reportedly signed key free agent Nicolas Batum to big multi-year deal.

When it came to Nicolas Batum and the Charlotte Hornets the question was two fold. The first issue was if he would come back. The second question was how much would it take to bring him back. A third issue lurking in the background was how soon would we know.

All those questions can now be answered. Batum opted to sign a five year $120 million dollar deal to remain in Charlotte according to reports from Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. Batum has tweeted about it and so we can lay this issue to rest.

The Hornets get their man. Batum’s usefulness as the conduit in the offense really opened up the games of the players around him last year. There was no real replacing him if he decided to go elsewhere. The Hornets now have their back court tandem of Batum, Kemba Walker, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist all under contract for the next four years during their primes.

Why did Batum opt to stay in Charlotte? Probably because he got to fulfill a role on the court that he never got the chance to in Portland. If he went to another team there was a chance that he would lose that primacy in the system. The extra year of money is not bad either.

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Batum’s deal measures out about $24 million per year. There are no year by year figures released, so let’s assume that he is making $24 million this upcoming season (his contract could be structured to help out the Hornets with this year’s cap number somewhat, but no promises). That is a savings of about $2.4 million dollars (per year) against the theoretical max salary number of $26.4 million.

What is $2.4 million dollars worth? It could mean bringing in a veteran to bolster the bench or more money to put into other negotiations. With Batum locked in, the team must now turn to its remaining issues.

Jeremy Lin keeps gaining more suitors. That is going to keep raising his price and the Hornets can’t compete for that kind of money ($12 million a year in some circles). The Hornets will most likely have to cut ties with Lin and target another backup guard. Jarrett Jack just became available from the Brooklyn Nets.

The big effort should be Marvin Williams. The Hornets know how good a fit Williams is. They also do not have shooting mobile big men quite in his mold. Like Batum, the question is price. How much is he worth? Not signing Lin may open up some money, but Williams will be another good commodity on the market.

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Batum also forces another question. While he is considered a small forward in some circles, Batum is really the two guard. Behind him the Hornets have Jeremy Lamb and Marco Belinelli. Neither is a great fit to spend part of their time at small forward. Courtney Lee had the defensive chops to do it, but he is a free agent. The Hornets have also extended a tender to Troy Daniels, adding another guard potentially.

With the two position four deep, someone will have to go. That will likely be Lamb or Belinelli, but they would have to be traded and not cut. One of the things the Hornets miss about Jeff Taylor is having that true backup for the small forward position. Lee would answer that issue and there is still time to sign him.

Next: Fall Back Plans

The Hornets made the necessary first step. Congratulations. Now they need to go fill out the roster to get a team that looked like the one they had last year.

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