NBA Free Agents: Five Players the Hornets Should Go After

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HOUSTON, TX – APRIL 24: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket defended b Austin Rivers #25 of the Houston Rockets and Kenneth Faried #35 in the first half during Game Five of the first round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs between the Houston Rockets and the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center on April 24, 2019 in Houston, Texas. 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 Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Ricky Rubio

Let’s go ahead and play out the scenario that Kemba does end up taking less money to play somewhere else. The first priority will be for the Hornets to find an acceptable replacement. Enter Rubio.

Ricky Rubio has already made it known that the Utah Jazz is not going to make him a priority in free agency, leaving the door for the former first-round pick to leave Salt Lake City wide open.

Rubio has always been more of a facilitator and not the scorer we’ve come to expect from the modern NBA point guard. But with Tony Park retiring, it would leave a huge void in terms of ball handlers on the team if the Hornets cannot resign Walker. Rubio could be the bridge player that could be in that starting role until the Hornets can draft a solid prospect later on.

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