Report Card: Charlotte’s Offseason
Grading the Transactions
Has the Charlotte Hornets’ offseason been all that intriguing? Most fans wouldn’t say so. We didn’t make a draft pick or a “splash” free agent signing. Rich Cho’s main goal was to keep Batum and Williams, which he accomplished. The acquisitions made have been somewhat boring and uneventful. But let’s not equate an ordinary offseason with an unproductive one.
The first maneuver, on draft night, was trading for Kings’ Marco Belinelli. This move caused the most dispute among fans and signaled a “win now” mentality for the Hornets. Charlotte was not looking to develop a rookie but willing to take on a proven, yet aging, player instead. This move by Cho pretty much sealed the fate for Courtney Lee, who was set to receive more money as a free agent. Belinelli will make just over $6 million in each of the next two seasons. It would’ve been difficult to find the production of a Belinelli for that type of money in free agency. This move was more about adding proven depth for a reasonable value. There are valid concerns about Belinelli’s effort on defense and declining stats. Although, it’s not to the point where I find myself disgusted with this move. Finding the right situation to thrive is what he needs, and Charlotte looks to provide that.
The next plan of action was set in motion as Cho set his sights on re-signing our top targets in Batum and Williams. This is where Rich Cho should and has received the most praise. Entering free agency, Charlotte had decisions to make on Batum, Lin, Williams, and Lee. Retaining three of the four would have been unlikely and keeping all four was impossible. Cho first focused his sights on Batum, the do-it-all player coming off his best season. Just hours into the moratorium, Cho worked his magic to agree to a 5 year, $120 million deal with Batum. This was $30 million less than his 5 year max salary. A steal in my books.
Marvin Williams became the next player the front office looked to secure. Williams is a stretch-four, underrated defender, and a true testament of a teammate. Once again, Williams agreed to an offer lower than expected. He agreed to a 4 year, $54.5 million deal using his “Early Bird Rights.” While I predicted this for Marvin, it was more of wishful thinking and still left me surprised.
We then filled out our roster with a couple of guards familiar with the organization. Ramon Sessions, signed to a 2 year deal, will back up Kemba Walker. Sessions became a viable replacement to Lin as his skills are comparable. Sessions, like Lin, could even see time playing next to Walker. Brian Roberts agreed to a one year deal worth less than $1 million. Roberts likely won’t have that big of an impact with limited minutes as a third point guard. The final acquisition was that of Roy Hibbert, who signed a one year, $5 million contract. Like Belinelli, Hibbert could use a change of scenery to return to his old form. At the least, Hibbert is going to provide rim protection that Charlotte desperately needs.
Charlotte’s offseason wasn’t flashy but it didn’t need to be. We didn’t overspend in free agency, kept two of our most impactful players, and kept our future flexibility in tact.
Report Card
Trading for Belinelli (B): If Belinelli puts up the same numbers as last year, this grade will seem quite generous. The Hornets are banking on the fact his 3 point percentage returns closer to 40%. If so, Marco will prove to be an effective bench shooter. For a team that loves to shoot the three ball, Marco will shoot his way in or out of minutes. Many saw this trade as incoming salary that would hinder our free agent plans. I think if you view this as a free agent signing of $6 million, then it becomes a more reasonable acquisition. I think Belinelli will bounce back in Charlotte and produce more than any player selected with the 22nd pick.
Re-signing Batum (A): This was the steal of them all. I would have been content to signing Batum to a max deal and was even bracing myself for it. Batum loves it here and Clifford will utilize him in ways Portland couldn’t. If we lost out on Batum, we would have taken two steps backwards. He is going to be a staple of the Hornets’ core for years to come.
Re-signing Williams (A-): Another bargain! While the 4 year deal isn’t ideal for a 30 year old, it sure beats losing or overpaying Williams. We were able to sign Williams using his “Early Bird Rights”, allowing us to exceed the cap. By agreeing to this, it saved the Hornets about $3.25 million in space for other free agents. This speaks volumes to Williams’ unselfishness and his value as a teammate. I don’t believe this past season is an anomaly for Marvin and expect similar production this upcoming season.
Signing Sessions, Hibbert and Roberts (B+): Low risk moves all across the board. If any or all acquisitions fall flat, we are not beholden to any of these players after the season. We were in need of toughness and a defensive presence in the post. We signed Hibbert. We were in need of a back up point guard who could try and replicate some of the things Lin could do. We signed Sessions. We also picked up a third point for insurance who just happens to be familiar to the system. While our cap was dwindling and the options were limited, we sure could have done a whole lot worse.
