Charlotte Hornets’ player-by-player status
A player-by-player look at the 2015-16 Charlotte Hornets’ roster:
Nic Batum
Positions: Shooting guard/small forward
Age/NBA seasons: 28/eight seasons
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in July
Comment: The Hornets were long in the market for a multi-skilled wing scorer. Batum delivered with all the versatility the franchise desired. Retaining him will be most expensive.
Troy Daniels
Position: Shooting guard
Age/NBA seasons: 25/three seasons
Contract status: Hornets can make him a restricted free agent for a qualifying offer of about $1.2 million.
Comment: He had some strong moments, particularly a 28-point game in leading the Hornets to a road victory over the Sacramento Kings. He shot 48 percent from 3-point range in the regular season.
Jorge Gutierrez
Position: Point guard
Age/NBA seasons: 28/three seasons
Contract status: Becomes a free agent in July.
Comment: The Hornets signed him out of the Development League in February as the third point guard. He played in only 12 games, but the coaching staff liked his basketball IQ and toughness in practice.
Tyler Hansbrough
Positions: Center/power forward
Age/NBA seasons: 30/seven seasons
Contract status: He’ll be an unrestricted free agent in July.
Comment: Hansbrough signed with the Hornets with the understanding he might not play much. He was here as an extra option among big men and to sometimes pick up the energy. That sums up his season.
Aaron Harrison
Positions: Point guard/shooting guard
Age/NBA seasons: 22/one season
Contract status: The Hornets reportedly have a team option for the 2016-17 season.
Comment: Harrison, an undrafted rookie, caught the Hornets’ attention at the Orlando summer league. He’s a project who figures to benefit from the Hornets’ Development League affiliate in Greensboro.
Spencer Hawes
Positions: Center/power forward
Age/NBA seasons: 29/nine seasons
Contract status: About $5.8 million for next season, plus a $6 million player option for 2017-18.
Comment: Hawes is a serviceable third option at center. Offensively he makes 37 percent of his 3-pointers, which can pull opposing centers away from the basked. He’s also a decent defensive rebounder.
Al Jefferson
Position: Center
Age/NBA seasons: 31/12 seasons
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in July.
Comment: Jefferson had a great first season with the Hornets, being named third-team All-NBA. Since then he’s dealt with various injuries. He hopes to finish his career with the Hornets.
Frank Kaminsky
Positions: Power forward/center
Age/NBA seasons: 24/one season
Contract status: Will make about $2.7 million next season, after which Hornets would have two one-season team options under the rookie pay scale.
Comment: Clifford says Kaminsky can be “exceptional.” Offensively he has the ability at 7-foot to post up and make 3-point shots. He needs to get considerably stronger, but that’s typical for a rookie.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Positions: Small forward/power forward
Age/NBA seasons: 23/four NBA seasons
Contract status: Kidd-Gilchrist signed an extension that will pay him $13 million in each of the next three seasons. The third of those seasons is a team option.
Comment: Kidd-Gilchrist twice suffered a torn labrum this season. While general manager Rich Cho called those “freak” accidents, the aggressive way Kidd-Gilchrist plays exposes him to injury risk.
Jeremy Lamb
Positions: Small forward/shooting guard
Age/NBA seasons: 24/fourth season
Contract status: Lamb signed a contract extension that will pay him about $21 million total over the next three seasons.
Comment: Lamb started strong after the trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder, but fell to the fringes of the rotation late in the regular season. He shot only 31 percent from 3-point range.
Courtney Lee
Positions: Shooting guard/small forward
Age/NBA seasons: 31/eight seasons
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in July.
Comment: Lee was acquired in a deal at the trade deadline from the Memphis Grizzlies. He was dependable as both a defender and a 3-point shooter. A very smart player.
Jeremy Lin
Positions: Point guard/shooting guard
Age/NBA seasons: 28/six seasons
Contract status: Will be an unrestricted free agent in July.
Comment: Was solid at both guard positions, taking some pressure off Kemba Walker to be both the team’s top-scoring option and its primary facilitator. Called this his most enjoyable NBA season.
Kemba Walker
Position: Point guard
Age/NBA seasons: 26/five seasons
Contract status: Walker’s contract extension will pay him $12 million each of the next three seasons.
Comment: Had his best NBA season, finishing second in balloting for league’s most improved player. Dramatically improved his 3-point shooting (30 percent up to 37 percent), which made him more dangerous off the dribble.
Marvin Williams
Positions: Power forward/small forward
Age/NBA seasons: 30/11 seasons
Contract status: Will be an unrestricted free agent in July
Comment: He got in great condition in the offseason and it paid off in arguably Williams’ best NBA season. Has become the prototypical defender/3-point shooter at power forward.
Cody Zeller
Positions: Center/power forward
Age/NBA seasons: 24/three seasons
Contract status: Will make slightly more than $12 million total the next two seasons on his rookie-scale contract.
Comment: Injuries to Al Jefferson pushed Zeller into the starting lineup as a center, and he seems better suited to that position than power forward. Needs to get stronger and increase shooting range.
This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 3:25 PM with the headline "Charlotte Hornets’ player-by-player status."