I have to confess I would have loved for the Hornets to throw a max contract at Brandon Ingram this summer but NOP would match anyway, and now the covid reduced cap has dropped CHA's cap space below what would be required, so its a moot point.
So this seems like a time to do nothing big. Being a small market team the Hornets need to build via the draft and hopefully make some trades that bring more draft picks and talent into its small but improving young core.
PJ Washington is a keeper, the only player on the roster with the potential to be an All-Star in the future. Miles Bridges showed flashes, and can be a piece. Devontae Graham did a pretty good Kemba Walker mini-me impersonation
For those who didn't watch the Hornets this year, Cody and Caleb Martin were a shot of fresh air for this team. Hornets fans on this board nicknamed the Martin twins Thing 1 and Thing 2 because they run around the court non-stop pell mell making plays that result in charges, steals, backdoor cuts, ball movement, flushes and three point daggers. Caleb shot 54% from 3 - one reason Malik Monk, imo, is expendable. Jalen McDaniels also proved to be a pleasant surprise. I didn't think with his rail thin physique he'd be able to contribute on an NBA court, but with his height and length he proved to be a good defender and better than expected scorer. Borrego gave all the young guys playing time and they were difference makers. If you aren't a Hornets fan this looked like just another losing season, for long suffering Hornets fans like me this year felt like a sea change that brought some hope for a new direction.
Apropos of all that, this Summer:
Start by not resigning Dwayne Bacon, Willy Hernangomez, and Bismack Biyombo
Batum unfortunately will opt in
That brings the roster down to 10
I would keep Borrego. He plays the guys who are playing best, including young guys. He didn't fall far from the Popovich tree. This year's team actually overachieved relative to roster talent.
Draft:
if CHA picks #8:
Tyrese Haliburton - perfect backcourt fit alongside Devontae Graham
Onyeku Okongwu - if Haliburton is gone and Okongwu available with Willy and Biz on their way out, Kong would be my pick
Deni Avdija -if Hali and Kong gone at 6'9 SF Avdija can fill the role Nic Batum was supposed to on this roster; Avdija's size on the wing, versatility, cutting and passing, with Graham and the Martin twins, would be a fun addition
Saddiq Bey - if Haliburton, Kong and Avdija are gone I would not hesitate to take Saddiq Bey at 8; the 6'8 combo forward can defend big wings and hit 3s at 40% and has the Nova pedigree, never gonna be a star but has a high floor and would help build the foundation of this team
at 32:
Xavier Tillman - his passing and defensive coaching would be worthy additions to the foundation of this team - his Horford like approach to the game - defense and playmaking first - would unlock a lot of versatility and ball sharing; he's never gonna be a star but could be a Captain-like piece, the kind of guy who makes everyone around him better, this team needs someone like that
at 56: Corey Kispert probably goes back to Zags but if not I would not be sorry to grab a Kyle Korver play-alike late in the draft; this team needs 3 pt shooters and I like Kispert's size as a shooter
conclusion: CHA prolly not going to find a star in this draft, but if they add the likes of Haliburton, Tillman and Kispert to PJ, Miles, Graham, Cody, Caleb, and McDaniels, that's a young core with nice fundamentals
Trade:
Lots of guards available in this year's draft, I like Haliburton, other Hornets fans favor Killian Hayes; we have one frequent poster who plumps for Ayo Dosunmu. But I don't see a path to playing time for any new young guards on this roster unless Rozier and/or Monk are traded.
Terry Rozier - Rozier was CHA's best player this year, but he doesn't really fit the young core, and is bit of a luxury. He has trade value, and offloading him and his contract is more about affording roster building flexibility both in terms of cap space and style of play, going forward. I like the trade proposed above with Philly that brought in Horford, Smith and pick for Rozier & Zeller; I would do that
Malik Monk - most Hornet fans think its too early to bail on him, as he was showing signs of breaking out before his suspension; not me, I would trade him asap, preferably for a player with better size and two way fundamentals. He is a SG who shoots 25% from 3, and will never be big enough to be even an average defender. He reminds me of a young JR Smith, a knucklehead who would fit in a specialist role on a contender or volume scorer for a team like the Knicks, and as such doesn't fit the Hornets young team-first oriented core. I happen to think Frank Ntilikina, who also is in desperate need of a change of address, is a better fit than Monk in a backcourt that features Devontae Graham, and Monk for Frank seems like a straightforward swap.
Other Trade Targets: Dzanan Musa, Rodions Kurucs, Nic Claxton, Alex Caruso, Svi Mikhailiuk, Goga Bitadze, Derrick White, Keldon Johnson, Josh Hart, Draft Picks; truth is Monk's not gonna fetch most of these guys, and Hornets otherwise lack trade bait
Free Agency:
I would take a swing at Harry Giles
High bbiq, playmaker, age fits CHA young core, he's from Winston-Salem, and if his knees stay healthy I think he becomes a good pro; esp like his learning curve if mentors like Horford, Tillman are brought in
2021 Hypothetical Roster, w Haliburton drafted, Rozier traded for Horford + Smith, and Monk traded for Ntilikina:
PG: Devontae Graham, Tyrese Haliburton, Cody Martin
SG: Caleb Martin, Frank Ntilikina, Zhaire Smith
SF: Miles Bridges, Corey Kispert, Nic Batum
PF: PJ Washington, Jalen McDaniels
C: Al Horford, Xavier Tillman, Harry Giles
That's a versatile, switchable group. The gist of my Summer would be, if you can't find a star, concentrate on team building via high IQ guys who screen, cut, pass, get after it on D, play team ball, foster chemistry and overachieve. If the Summer plays out in a similar fashion to the above I'd be content. Okongwu instead of Haliburton I'm still happy. A roster like the one above represents incremental improvement, is not going to win many more games in '21, but will play well together, be scrappy and fun to watch; keep building smart until the team can somehow capture a star
