Charlotte Hornets: Williams to come back
The Charlotte Hornets brought back their second key free agent in the form of forward Marvin Williams.
Phase one of the Charlotte Hornets’ plan was to bring back Nicolas Batum. That has been accomplished. Phase two of the Hornets plan was to bring back Marvin Williams. This became especially true after both Jeremy Lin and Al Jefferson made deals elsewhere.
Well this second part has seemingly been accomplished as well. According to reports from Steve Reed of the AP, Williams signed a four year deal worth 54 million dollars to stay in Charlotte. That deal is worth about $13.5 million per season or a little less than double what Williams was making last year.
Williams provided flexibility and shooting from the four position as the Hornets went to a more free flow open concept offense last season. He and Batum were the pieces that it would have been difficult to replace if they had walked in free agency. Williams’ return means that the Hornets starting five from last season is basically intact.
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Then there is the price tag. I had been concerned that the Hornets would not offer more ten million a year to keep Williams. I think part of that problem went away when it became obvious that they could not afford to keep both Williams and Lin.
The Hornets’ new ledger for next year now looks something like this-
Nicolas Batum – $24 million
Marvin Williams – $13.5 million
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – $13 million
Kemba Walker – $12 million
Jeremy Lamb – $6.5 million
Spencer Hawes – $6.3 million
Marco Belinelli – $6 million
Cody Zeller – $5.3 million
Frank Kaminsky – $2.7 million
Troy Daniels (tender) – $1.2 million
Aaron Harrison (non-guaranteed) – $875,000
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That is eleven players for a total of 91.375 million dollars. That leaves a little under three million dollars in cap space to sign four players. The Hornets would be able to use the midlevel exception if they exceed the salary cap. That would be a player slot of about $5.6 million or about what Jarrett Jack made last year.
The roster is currently guard heavy in my mind. If Kidd-Gilchrist is healthy then Batum is the starter at the two and not the three. That would leave the Hornets with Daniels, Belinelli, and Lamb all needing time at the two spot as well with only some suitability at the three spot.
Next: Hornets talking to Humphries?
The Hornets made noises about trading Lamb or Hawes, but those noises haven’t really gone anywhere. Which means that without such a move the Hornets are essentially done for this off season. There is still the backup point guard issue, but the Hornets are likely going to fill out their roster with three players making near the minimum.