After the Lance Stephenson experiment went south, the Hornets opted for a new kind of crazy, bringing the Linsanity back to the East coast along with Frank the Tank and Tyler Hansbrough.
In
Jeremy Lin – two years, $4.3 million
Aaron Harrison – two years, $1.39 million
Tyler Hansbrough – one year, estimated $1.19 million
Elliot Williams – one year, $1.02 million
Spencer Hawes – trade with Clippers
Nicholas Batum – trade with Trail Blazers
Jeremy Lamb – trade with Thunder
Out
Bismack Biyombo – free agent
Jason Maxiell – free agent
Jeffery Taylor – free agent
Mo Williams – free agent
Lance Stephenson – trade with Clippers
Gerald Henderson – trade with Trail Blazers
Noah Vonleh – trade with Trail Blazers
Draft
Frank Kaminsky – 9th pick overall
Overview
It might be a mild understatement to say that Charlotte experienced some talent turnover during the offseason; terms like “sea change” more accurately spring to mind. A number of players left like the receding tide, buoyed by the wave of incoming talent for the Hornets this summer.
Probably the least surprising player to be set adrift was Lance Stephenson, former beacon of hope. Stephenson had anything but a great year so the Hornets turned his contract into Spencer Hawes and, through some extra maneuvering, Jeremy Lamb – via trades involving Matt Barnes and Luke Ridnour. Hawes is a mid-level big with three years left which will pay him just over $6 million in his final season and he seems primed as the capable backup to Al Jefferson for the 2015-16 campaign. Lamb is in the final year of his deal so no major commitment concerns if things don’t work out for his inexpensive, expiring deal.
The Hornets also cut loose with Bismack Biyombo, Jason Maxiell, Jeffery Taylor and Mo Williams. The Hawes addition has the potential to offset the vacancy left by Biyombo, even if they offer different skill sets. The bad news for the Hornets was the loss of Mo Williams. This bad news comes with at least a small dose of good news – Linsanity. Yes, the Charlotte Hornets made the move for Jeremy Lin to counterbalance the departure of skill at the guard position. Lin has to love being out of the Kobe and Swaggy circus.
Of course, Linsanity will still share the court with crazy this year – just a different kind. Tyler “Psycho T” Hansbrough, the scrappy ex-Tar Heel is back in North Carolina! And he will slide nicely into a deep bench reserve at power forward behind…another ex-Tar Heel in Marvin Williams. Fun fact: Marvin Williams is from Bremerton, Washington, which is also home to punk rock legends, MxPx. Maybe that fact isn’t fun, but those are the only two things I’ve heard of in relation to Bremerton, Washington.
The Hornets definitely had issues shooting the ball last year, particularly from three-point range. Adding Nicholas Batum via trade should help with that situation. Troy Daniels, 2015 Summer League standout, should also help in that category, though he will likely have to do so in a much more limited role than Batum.
Did I forget to mention NCAA Player of the Year Frank Kaminsky? My bad. Here’s to hoping he gets some reps and develops a solid NBA game. Right now, he has to be slotted in somewhere behind Batum, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Williams and Zeller. Just depends on where the Hornets decide to line him up this season. With an extension candidate like Kidd-Gilchrist out to earn his next contract while contending for a spot with a veteran like Batum, whom Charlotte just jettisoned Noah Vonleh to get, it would seem that Kaminsky might have an easier route to the floor going through Psycho T, Williams and Cody Zeller. Charlotte clearly like what they see in Kaminsky, declining trade night offers in order to keep their spot and sending out Vonleh, last year’s lottery grab at the exact same spot, No. 9.
The Hornets were not content to tide themselves over during the offseason and have to feel like a legitimate playoff contender for 2015-16 in a still weak Eastern Conference. Losing a player like Mo Williams would hurt just about any team, but Charlotte went and got themselves two capable guards in Lin and Lamb. Stephenson showed signs of great skill in Indiana, but seemed to leave it there. Turning that contract into something useful was a huge success for the Hornets and so was their offseason, overall. If this season turns into another disappointment, the contracts of Batum, Hansbrough and Williams will all be off the books, giving them ample room to work with for 2016-17.
Offseason Grade: B+
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