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Charlotte Hornets: An Off-Season Fantasy (Or is it?)

By John Woodcock

Jan 21, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) talks to head coach Steve Clifford during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) talks to head coach Steve Clifford during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) shoots over North Carolina Tar Heels forward Isaiah Hicks (4) in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) shoots over North Carolina Tar Heels forward Isaiah Hicks (4) in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

The Hornets are over the projected cap by something like $12 million dollars. This means the team will have to work by trades and they can’t make trades that have them taking on too much money.

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The tools for dealing that the Hornets have are the expiring contracts of Marco Belinelli and Ramon Sessions. They also have the non-guaranteed contracts of Christian Wood and Treveon Graham to either package or cut. The Hornets have a trade exception from Troy Daniels being signed off the restricted free agent list next year.

Brian Roberts is a restricted free agent. The Hornets have no unrestricted free agents.

Let’s try to go through the Hornets’ off-season as I think would be best for the team in the upcoming season.

  1. Returning Salary – $114 million
  2. Draft Center Zach Collins – Gonzaga (pick 11) in the first round of the NBA Draft: $2.4 million dollars

Here is the cheapest option to deal with the big man issue. Collins is a true seven footer with the promise of a diverse skill set. If he is gone then this could be Bam Adebayo instead.

  1. Draft Guard Frank Mason III – Kansas (pick 41): $950,000

Trying to find cheap options here. It might make the most sense for the Hornets to deal their second round pick for a future second rounder or use it on a player who will stay overseas instead. Undrafted free agents are about $400,000 cheaper.

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