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

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
charlotte hornets
Apr 25, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Courtney Lee (1) argues a call in the second quarter against the Miami Heat in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

Starters

C Zach Collins

F Marvin Williams

F Carmelo Anthony

G Nicolas Batum

G Kemba Walker

Reserves

C/Frank Kaminsky

G Courtney Lee

G Ty Lawson

C Miles Plumlee

G Jeremy Lamb

F Kyle O’Quinn

G Frank Mason III

More from Old North Banter

Inactives

Rookie FA 1 (let’s say Amile Jefferson)

Rookie FA 2 (let’s say Jack Gibbs)

Rookie FA 3 (out of ideas, insert name here)

This roster is not cheap. The Hornets would ultimately still be around $15-20 million over the cap, but they would not have dented their luxury tax threshold much. It is an older roster, but it is a deeper roster that is designed to win now and generally follows the current Hornets model.

Next: Less Ambitious Carmelo Anthony Trade

If it fails, the next Hornets general manager will be able to move Anthony in the final year of his deal. The same would hold true for O’Quinn and/or Lamb. The biggest issue would be Kemba Walker coming into the final year of his current deal, and the definite price increase that would occur.