2015 Free Agency thread

[BeesWax]

Adding any shooter to this offense and having them fall off the face of the earth is something I am completely ready for.

You seem to go out of your way to make it clear you're hoping for it.

Not hoping just monitoring the trends. I know you like to ignore them but I am completely ready for trends to continue unless we change the fundamental problems with the team. Clifford and/or Al.

[-Ian-]

NBA Free Agents 2015: Ideal Signing for Every Team This Summer

The Charlotte Hornets desperately need more shooters.

During the 2014-15 season, the former Bobcats successfully converted only 498 three-point attempts, which left them as one of five members of the sub-500 club, along with the Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves.

But even more problematically, Charlotte actually tried to hit triples, unlike some of the teams in that club. It wasn't steadfastly ignoring the space beyond the arc, but rather hitting those looks at a 31.8 percent clip, which narrowly edged out the Philadelphia 76ers' historically putrid offense for the worst mark in the Association.

Shooters are sorely needed, and Danny Green isn't just any shooter.

In addition to coming off a season in which he took 5.6 attempts per game from downtown and made 41.8 percent of them—his fourth consecutive year with a percentage in the 40s—Green also continued asserting himself as a two-way force. It's that defensive ability that makes him a strong fit in Steve Clifford's system, not just the touch from long-range.

[Hornet Mania]

Danny Green would be great, but I don't think he comes at a reasonable price. I'm also a little (actually, a lot) concerned that his success has been a product of the Spurs' system. When is the last time we saw a San Antonio role player leave and put up roughly the same numbers on similar percentages? That makes me very wary.

If we could get Green by offering him Hendo-type money (not happening, of course) I'd be all for it. If we have to offer $10m+ it's going to bite us in the ass down the road. He's looked pretty bad in the Clippers series as well, small sample size, but when he's not hitting those threes his usefulness absolutely tanks. I'm afraid if Cliff got hold of Green he would give him the full Neal/Mo treatment and let him take whatever ridiculous shots he wanted without any rhyme or reason, which is not his game.

[8yq7sw3w75ssww]

Besides of getting reliable shooters, we should be able to create some plays for them and move the ball rightly. At the beginning of the season we did, but just saying.

So how is our cap hold assuming that both Hendo and Al opt in? How many salary space it leaves?

[LofJ]

Besides of getting reliable shooters, we should be able to create some plays for them and move the ball rightly. At the beginning of the season we did, but just saying.

So how is our cap hold assuming that both Hendo and Al opt in? How many salary space it leaves?

If we renounce Biyombo, Daniels, Mo, and Taylor's holds we'll be right under the $67.1 million cap I believe (with the hold of the 9th pick added). So unless Henderson opts out we'll only have the mid-level exception and biannual exception available to sign free agents.

edit: Assuming we don't extend anyone or pick up Lance's option, and let MKG hit the RFA market next offseason, we'll have over $55 million in available cap space next offseason (including MKG's cap hold). The only other teams in the league with close to that much cap space will be the Pelicans, Nuggets, 76'ers, and Pacers.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

If Lance is renounced and the stretch provision is used the team can clear a bit of space. I don't think that it's a useful move cap wise unless Hendo (or Al) opts out. Still IF Hendo opts out and the team does this they do have some space to work with.

My opinion: I expect Al to opt in and Hendo to opt out. I do expect the team to stretch provision Lance if Hendo opts out.

[BeesWax]

I hope we don't stretch Lance because that is a complete waste. There is no sense in it because it does not free enough space do accomplish anything. The only thing it does is let the contract hang on us in small amounts for a long time.

[HornetJail]

Waiving Lance should only be saved for post-All-Star break if we can't find any trades, and he's being a pain in the ass, and he's a detriment on the court. Nothing we've heard this season should lead anybody to believe that Lance is being a locker room issue. I also have zero doubts that next year Lance is going to be A LOT better than he was this past season. It appears he's willing to stick around this summer and work on his game with the rest of the team, and hopefully he'll have a better team to help him out.

Lance was terrible this year, but he was unfairly scapegoated a lot. If you asked me to point to our bigger issue, I'd point to Al over Lance every single time, based on this team's needs right now.

[JDR720]

I think we try and trade Lance this offseason. we tried too hard during the season to not try again when we get the chance.

[yosemiteben]

I can see us waiving Lance if, and only if, Hendo opts out and we have a certain use for that space, but I think that any replacement is going to be too expensive so I don't see that as realistic. I don't think keeping the contract around for a couple years is a big deal because we're going to have an absurd amount of space, but if we aren't getting a clear upgrade then I don't think we do it just to do it.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

I agree that the team will try to trade Lance first. I just don't expect there to be any takers.

My POV is that this is the "all-in on Cliff" off season. They are bringing Al back one way or the other. Cho will be more aggressive than ever when it comes to trying to get shooters even if that means trading the pick this year.

Getting rid of Lance isn't just a cap move ... it's also about cutting losses. Whatever the truth was to the early season rumors about Lance complaining about Cliff it really did feel like the two just couldn't work it out. Normally the players win over the coach in those sorts of situations. However with Kemba and Al being very publicly for Cliff that wasn't going to happen here. In any event Lance will be gone one way or the other, as a sign of support for Cliff, even if it's largely a cap neutral move.

[BeesWax]

I would hope our front office would not screw over the future of the team to appease a coach who will only be here another year. If he wants to stay he needs to learn to make a functional offense and if he does that Lance could be an asset. Stretching his contract when it expires this year is pointless unless you can get a star and we can't without some major additional moves to create space.

[LofJ]

Unless Lance is a major locker room problem I agree that stretching him is foolish. He has talent, if he's working with our coaches and the other guys on the team to get better it makes no sense at all to just dump him. He's still a potential asset on a team friendly deal.

[Benjamin Linus]

I know we like to trash him on here, but do you think we'll go after Afflalo if Hendo opts out? He'll be 30 at the start of next season and is coming off a down year, so I'm assuming he'll be a far cheaper option than say Danny Green.

[BeesWax]

I know we like to trash him on here, but do you think we'll go after Afflalo if Hendo opts out? He'll be 30 at the start of next season and is coming off a down year, so I'm assuming he'll be a far cheaper option than say Danny Green.

I do not think we go after anyone on a multiple year contract unless the are young enough to grow with our core. If AA wanted a one year deal here then maybe but I think he would be looking for more security.

[Rusted]

Hey guys, great thread here, but like many people have suggested - its not likely we'll have much cap space. Anyone know of any wings coming on the market that might be available around mid-level exception prices?

[Diop]

I know we like to trash him on here, but do you think we'll go after Afflalo if Hendo opts out? He'll be 30 at the start of next season and is coming off a down year, so I'm assuming he'll be a far cheaper option than say Danny Green.

if there is nothing else and he's happy with a 1 year rental, why not?

we would really have to move some bodies though.

[HornetJail]

Hey guys, great thread here, but like many people have suggested - its not likely we'll have much cap space. Anyone know of any wings coming on the market that might be available around mid-level exception prices?

Dunleavy, Dudley, Bellinelli, or Thornton would be very solid pickups for $4M or less IMO.

[LofJ]

My Predictions on our 3 biggest question marks in Free Agency

Biyombo's Restricted Free Agency
He didn't make starter criteria so his Qualifying Offer (QO) is relatively affordable for a backup center, so I am almost certain we will at least extend him the QO. We're taking a risk though that some team will pay him starter money and if we're not willing to invest in him as our starting center when Al is gone we'll have to let him walk.

Prediction: After drafting Willie Cauley-Stein with the 9th pick the Celtics offer Biyombo a 4 year, $40 million deal and we work out a sign and trade, with them sending us Gerald Wallace and the 16th pick.

Henderson's Player Option
Gerald is a loyal guy and he knows that teams will be flush with cash next year, so I would be surprised if he opts out.

Prediction: He opts into the final year of his contract.

MKG'S Extension
At this point in time MKG is the heart of this franchise, where he goes we go. So we will likely attempt to sign him to an extension this offseason. The amount we offer him will be tricky because we know he is very likely to continue improving and he is already our most important player. If he makes a similar jump next season we will likely have to sign him to around his maximum eligible deal. So we will probably look to convince him that signing now for less potential money is best for his long-term stability.

Prediction: MKG bets on himself and opts to wait until next offseason to sign an extension. Our front office believes he may prove to be worth the maximum, but we opt to see it on the court before the final contract terms are agreed to.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

Issue with Biyombo prediction - free agency happens after the draft. That deal would either have to be worked out in advance (illegal, but handshake deals like that have happened before) ... or they would have to draft someone at 16 that the Hornets really wanted.

Hendo will opt out IMHO. They've tried to replace him as a starter, and his starting gig is in danger next year too. He will make far more money as a free agent if teams think starter rather than having a year to think of him as a backup.

MKG will be interesting, no doubt.