Hornets mailbag. Who’s most likely to be traded: Rozier, Batum, Monk or Bridges?
There’s a lot of curiosity among Charlotte Hornets fans whether Nic Batum will still be here when his contract expires after next season.
That’s understandable, considering Batum is by far the highest-paid player on this team ($27 million guaranteed for next season) and he didn’t play in any of last season’s final 19 games.
Is there any trade value in his expiring contract? Would a buyout make sense? That topic leads an end-of-season Hornets mailbag.
Some questions have been lightly edited for clarity.
Your thoughts on general manager Mitch Kupchak’s mindset regarding Batum’s expiring contract?
— @rockdobbster on Twitter.
Of the three possibilities — Batum is traded, Batum does a buyout to be released or Batum is here through the end of the 2020-21 season — I still think the most likely outcome is Nic finishing out the contract here.
For Batum to be traded, the Hornets would have to take back a large veteran contract for another player. Unless that veteran’s contract also ends after the 2020-21 season, the Hornets would be limiting the financial flexibility Kupchak has worked toward since he arrived in the spring of 2018.
A buyout would require Batum giving up some guaranteed money to speed up getting a new start elsewhere. Batum and his family greatly enjoy living in Charlotte. I don’t think he has a burning desire to move on. Maybe a buyout becomes an option after the trade deadline when contenders look for veterans to fill out their playoff rosters.
Does Devonte Graham’s emergence and Terry Rozier’s contract prevent the Hornets from drafting a point guard?
— @HanginWitCooper
Absolutely not. Kupchak said as long ago as September and as recently as last week that this team isn’t at a stage in development when positions are more important than gathering talent. I believe him when he says if a player is clearly best on their board, but isn’t at a position of need, that Charlotte would draft that player and worry later about how the parts fit together.
How would a lower salary cap than what was projected affect the Hornets’ offseason?
— @GaryWestbrook13
With the NBA’s plummet in revenue, due to the pandemic, it seems inevitable the Hornets won’t have the $28 million in cap space Kupchak anticipated in February. However, they will still have lower payroll obligations than a majority of teams, and this could provide Kupchak with some trade leverage.
While we don’t know how the league and the players union will renegotiate the salary cap and luxury tax, it’s a safe bet more teams will be in danger of paying tax than projected before the season shut down. Teams will be looking to off-load veteran contracts. Kupchak said last week he’s receptive to acquiring a veteran if the other team would make it worthwhile (which would probably mean sending the Hornets a draft pick)
Kupchak never intended to be a major bidder for free agents this summer. So if they don’t have massive cap room until after Batum’s contract expires in the summer of 2021, it’s not a major setback.
Why do you think Dwayne Bacon wants to go elsewhere?
— @Updatesonben
It was obvious when I spoke with Bacon in Greensboro in late February that he felt the Hornets coaching staff didn’t still believe in him. Combine that with how much Cody and Caleb Martin played late in the Hornets’ season, and it’s hard to see a great future in Charlotte for guard-forward Bacon.
I think Bacon has NBA talent, but still has a lot to improve, particularly reading defenses to become a better facilitator. A fresh start with another team makes great sense.
Which Hornet is most likely to be traded between Rozier, Miles Bridges, Malik Monk and Batum?
— @erikwharris
I’d say there is no better than a 20 percent chance than any of them are traded this offseason. Of those four, Rozier has the most trade value, assuming another team is prepared to assume the remaining $37 million on his contract for the next two seasons.
I think Rozier had the best season among Hornets; maybe not by a wide margin, but he had the best body of work. He shot a career-best 41 percent from 3-point range, was a good defender and adapted to floating between both guard spots. His attitude, adjusting to the ascension of Graham at point guard, was terrific. Considering how much skepticism there was regarding Rozier’s contract (myself included), he shined with a new team.
Do you think there is any chance of the Hornets getting Brandon Ingram in free-agency?
— @docncsu
No. As stated above, Kupchak has said repeatedly he does not plan to make a major free-agent pitch this offseason. Specific to Ingram, he will be a restricted free agent on a building team. I don’t know why an NBA teams would think the New Orleans Pelicans wouldn’t match any offer sheet Ingram signs.
