Old North Banter
Fansided

Charlotte Hornets make right move signing Tony Parker

By Brandon Croce

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 26: Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball against the Washington Wizards in the second half at Verizon Center on November 26, 2016 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 26: Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball against the Washington Wizards in the second half at Verizon Center on November 26, 2016 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

While he may not play at an All-Star level, the Charlotte Hornets signing Tony Parker is a smart move for this organization.

The Charlotte Hornets are looking for a fresh start with James Borrego named as head coach this offseason. The hope is that Borrego would be able to help build a winning culture in Charlotte similar to the one he left in San Antonio.

There may not be a better player to help build that culture with his leadership in the locker room and on the court than Tony Parker. The point guard spent his 18-year career with the Spurs, playing for one of the best coaches in NBA history, Gregg Popovich. During his time in the NBA, he has made the playoffs every year and helped his teams win four championships.

The concern will be how much Parker has left in the tank. He is coming off a year with career lows in games played (55), minutes per game (19.5) points per game (7.7), assists per game (3.5), and rebounds per game (1.7).

While the decline in stats is a bit worrisome, it may not be a big issue as Parker appears posed to be the backup to Kemba Walker. This is a role he played last year on the Spurs, backing up Dejounte  According to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, Parker said he was not given any guarantees about playing time with the Hornets.

"“They didn’t give me (assurances) on playing time,” said Parker, who turned 36 in May. “There’s the challenge in helping J.B. in that first job. I’m helping the team, I’m helping Kemba.”"

One of the biggest challenges for any new head coach is getting his players to buy into his culture and the way he wants to run the team. A player like Parker, who can be an advocate for Borrego in the locker room, will help ease the transition and can be a leader for this team.

Next: Panthers sale to Tepper closes

These are the types of moves that will help the Charlotte Hornets rebound and reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-2016 season.

Home/North Carolina Sports