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The short answer, I think, is yes: with Emeka Okafor and maybe 1-2 others. But in this franchise's history dating back to 1988, we've let most of our top picks go once their rookie deal concluded. Some because they sucked, and others because we were either cheap or couldn't afford them.

What does this mean if anything when it comes to keeping Kemba and MKG around? Looking at the cap for next year doesn't make it promising.

i do remember a time with the old charlotte hornets when we failed to re-sign something like 24 straight free agents. but, that was a different front office and owner and not fair to compare to the current situation.

okafor - offered a good deal when he was RFA, he choose to play out season and hit UFA and re-signed, then traded
felton - offered a good deal when he was RFA, he choose to play out season and hit UFA and left
may - waived
ammo - traded
dudley - traded
ajinca - traded
augustin - offered a good deal when he was RFA, he choose to play out season and hit UFA and left
hendo - re-signed

i think that's it so far.

only felton and augustin left on their own and both were offered fair deals prior to hitting UFA. both probably should have taken the money we offered.

Okafor, Wallace, Hendo, Felton (qualifying offer), Tyrus Thomas are all the ones I can think of in Bobcats history. I'm sure there's plenty more in the original Hornet era.

Problem is- most of the guys we drafted from 2004-2009 weren't worth retaining. Wallace was picked up in the expansion draft, May was trash and out of the league after we were done with him, Morrison was traded then out of the league, Derrick Brown expired and went overseas never to be seen again, Dudley was traded for Doris, Augustin was nearly out of the league after failed stints with Indy and Toronto before Thibs revived him. On the other hand, we had to overpay Okafor and TT like crazy, and Felton took a QO and left to become a journeyman a year later. Crash and Mek were the only guys worth retaining out of that bunch (and I guess Henderson was worth it, though most of us don't think so now).

MKG, Kemba, and Bismack will all be back. They aren't failed picks. Post-2010 Charlotte is being run plenty different than 2004-10 Charlotte.

In the run of the Hornets, going back to 1988, I believe the first free agent they had kept was Baron Davis. However, he resigned in New Orleans.

BigLos2010 wrote:In the run of the Hornets, going back to 1988, I believe the first free agent they had kept was Baron Davis. However, he resigned in New Orleans.

Dell Curry was a rookie (not drafted by us though) whose contract we extended.

BigLos2010 wrote:In the run of the Hornets, going back to 1988, I believe the first free agent they had kept was Baron Davis. However, he resigned in New Orleans.

Larry Johnson was extended after his first two years with a crazy contract.

jdm3 wrote:

BigLos2010 wrote:In the run of the Hornets, going back to 1988, I believe the first free agent they had kept was Baron Davis. However, he resigned in New Orleans.

Larry Johnson was extended after his first two years with a crazy contract.

12 years 84 mil, then we got rid of our two building blocks because they hated each other. Fun times!

gotta say, it's going to take some getting used to seeing hornets history being discussed in this forum. it's all relevant now!

LamarMatic7 wrote:

BigLos2010 wrote:In the run of the Hornets, going back to 1988, I believe the first free agent they had kept was Baron Davis. However, he resigned in New Orleans.

Dell Curry was a rookie (not drafted by us though) whose contract we extended.

He wasn't a rookie, he'd played for Cleveland I believe.

We should have waived Felton.

Robot Rock wrote:

LamarMatic7 wrote:

BigLos2010 wrote:In the run of the Hornets, going back to 1988, I believe the first free agent they had kept was Baron Davis. However, he resigned in New Orleans.

Dell Curry was a rookie (not drafted by us though) whose contract we extended.

He wasn't a rookie, he'd played for Cleveland I believe.

My bad, what I meant was that he was on a rookie deal.

I think MKG and Kemba will stick around, assuming we have some success over the next couple of years and neither gets an insane contract offer we choose not to match.

Players from the past generally weren't resigned because they didn't want to be here (Zo), Shinn was being cheap and Bob Bass got decent value for them in trades (Glen Rice, Eddie Jones), or because they sucked (various Bobcats lottery picks). I don't see MKG/Kemba falling into the bad attitude/they suck categories, and I think MJ will pay for a winning core.