Five things you may have missed — and should know — as Hornets’ NBA offseason begins
Recapping a long 24-plus hours, Mitch Kupchak offered some insight into the franchise’s direction and strategy this weekend.
The Charlotte Hornets’ general manager explained how the franchise’s mentality changed a bit from previous offseasons, given the current composition of the roster. Trading Jalen Duren, whom they selected No. 13 overall in last Thursday’s draft, to New York for five future picks before grabbing Duke’s Mark Williams off the board at No. 15 represented an organizational shift in philosophy.
“Bringing in an extra young player here,” Kupchak said, “if we would have drafted at 13, which was certainly an option, you have the three young guys from last year and maybe the three young guys this year. Now you’ve got six young guys, and is it fair to the six of them? Because they all can’t play and they start slowing each other down.
“And then to the coach, now you’ve got six players under 20. So it’s not fair to the coach and the veterans. So it is a different approach than we’ve taken in the last year or two.”
Although the hiring of Steve Clifford also stole the spotlight in the aftermath of the draft, there were plenty of noteworthy nuggets following the first major event of the NBA’s offseason. Here are five things we learned:
Miles Bridges still a priority
Pre-free agency hysteria is setting in as people attempt to search for every little clue for insight about what’s going on and the direction a player or team is leaning.
That’s the situation with restricted free agent Miles Bridges.
With Bridges’ representatives seeking a hefty payday and scouring the market to make sure his annual salary is commensurate with market value, he’s one of the hottest names out there. Bridges and the Hornets have repeatedly said they want each other and Kupchak did nothing to suggest that’s changed.
“We value all the free agents,” Kupchak said. “Obviously, we put different values on them. And Miles has been great. He was drafted by us and each year he got a little bit better and this past year he made a big leap. And at his age and the fact that he has really grown into a professional, there is not a reason why there is not another leap or two in his career.”
Gordon Hayward’s future
A report swirled before the draft suggesting Gordon Hayward could be on the move, potentially getting traded since there were indications the Hornets were trying to offload at least one of those two first-round picks. Nothing materialized. At least, not yet.
Hayward has two years valued at $61 million remaining on his contract, and that isn’t going to be easy for the Hornets to shed unless they attach some assets to entice the offer. Hayward’s availability has been an issue in his two seasons with the Hornets, having missed 62 games due to various injuries.
When asked about the composition of the bulk of the team and its core players, Kupchak mentioned Hayward unsolicited.
“We like the group,” Kupchak said. “Obviously we want Gordon to get healthy and stay healthy. That’s arguably one of our best players. So that’s the key, and knock on wood, he’s made good progress this summer. Sprained ankle, but he’s on the court. He’s working out.
“And that’s a big key for us, no doubt about it. Not only is he our highest-paid player, but he’s one of our best players, too. (Brings) stability and just somebody that calms and steadies the game for our younger players. So that’s important.”
Hornets believe in Mark Williams
Finally realizing his dream and making it to the NBA had Mark Williams’ smile nearly matching his 7-foot-7 wingspan during his introductory press conference.
Being back in the same gym he worked out in weeks ago — except on this occasion sitting on a dais in a suit — the No. 15 overall selection was appreciative of his journey. All those hours of practice time paid off, and Williams’ elation was evident despite his calm, laid-back demeanor.
“It’s crazy,” Williams told the Observer. “It’s hit me a little bit. I think it’s going to take another day for it to really set in, but obviously I’m really excited and really happy to get here and get to work.”
Williams fills an immediate need for the Hornets, who’ve been searching for big man help for a while. Kupchak said they had Williams rated No. 1 at his position on their board and the Hornets thought so much of him they traded Duren. There was little doubt who they wanted.
“It means a lot,” Williams said. “Obviously, for them to believe in me, take a chance on me, it’s something that I really appreciate and (want to) make sure they don’t regret that decision.”
Williams has a completely different skill set than starter Mason Plumlee, who has a noteworthy contract deadline on Monday. All of Plumlee’s $8.5 million salary for 2022-23 becomes fully guaranteed if he’s not waived by the end of the day.
At that point, unless his salary is needed to complete an upcoming trade, it should signal his inclusion on the roster leading into the summer.
Bryce McGowens a two-way?
As a South Carolina native, Bryce McGowens is already familiar with this region. It sounds like he will see plenty of it over the next 12 months.
Kupchak suggested McGowens, whom the Hornets selected in the second round Thursday, is going to be on a two-way contract. Most of his rookie season is on track to be in Greensboro with the Swarm, the Hornets’ G League affiliate.
“I feel like it’s a great opportunity for me to learn,” McGowens told the Observer, “get better and to grow as a person and as a player, and just compete. That’s what the game’s about. Just coming out having fun, competing and doing what you love. So I love it.”
McGowens, who grew up just southwest of Greenville, S.C. in Pendleton, is thrilled to be with the NBA team closest to his hometown. He is eager to soak up as much knowledge as possible from everyone, including LaMelo Ball.
“LaMelo, he is an All-Star,” McGowens said. “So me coming in, learning from him and everything that he knows, me picking his brain on different things, it will be great for me. He’s a great point guard. He knows how to find his guys, he knows how to create his own shot and he is just a great person.”
With McGowens receiving a two-way contract, it means there will be at least a slight shuffling on the back end of the Hornets’ roster. Each team is allowed to have a maximum of two players who are paid a corresponding daily amount based on the number of days they play in each league. They can’t spend more than 45 days with their NBA team.
Arnoldas Kulboka and Scottie Lewis were the Hornets’ two-way players this past season, so there doesn’t appear to be a replay of that happening again in 2022-23. It will be one of the things to watch heading into summer league action.
Summer league shaping up
Completely compiling the summer league roster is among the things on the Hornets’ plate this week, and it’s clear they will have at least three headliners besides their new rookies.
JT Thor, Kai Jones and James Bouknight are going to be playing at summer league to get extra seasoning leading into their second years. Kupchak said it will be up to the three of them to earn minutes once the regular season rolls around.
Same goes with Williams. Just because he’s the latest addition doesn’t necessarily guarantee he’s going to be part of the main rotation immediately.
“That remains to be seen because now Kai, James and JT have got a year under their belt and Mark is rookie,” Kupchak said. “And rookies, typically there is a period where they have to go through a big adjustment. So, I don’t know.”
