Draft picks: 12, 36, 52
Signed for next season ($102.5): Nicolas Batum, Bismack Biyombo, Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Tony Parker, Malik Monk, Miles Bridges, Willy Hernangomez, Dwayne Bacon, Devonte Graham
This a supremely 'okay' supporting cast but waaaaay too expensive. Feels like next summer is the time for a real makeover (especially if Kemba bails). They've got two more years on Batum and Zeller; one more year on Biyombo, Williams, Kidd-Gilchrist; and no more years with Tony Parker, who retired (hmmm, seems like he could've gotten time in a post-Kemba Charlotte, right? So why'd he bail now?).
Malik Monk has moments, looks like he can still turn into a crazy filler-upper (think Rip Hamilton).
Miles Bridges is exciting, if not exactly a dominant player.
I like Hernangomez and Bacon, both look like nice young players to me.
Still not sure on Graham.
This summer's free agents: Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb, Frank Kaminsky, Shelvin Mack
Re-signing Kemba is top priority...and....probably won't happen, not impossible but we'll see. This is the first domino for the Hornets, everything else comes after.
Lamb had some solid moments for the Hornets after a disappointing introduction to the league, not sure if they try to bring him back or move on. If they lose Kemba does that make Lamb imperative or unnecessary?
I suspect they let Kaminsky go. Not bad but just not fleet of foot or confident shooter from the perimeter. (I could see him kicking ass in Europe)
Mack's not coming back. I think he was just a roster manipulation, in which case, I guess he could become useful in the future.
Their best case draft scenario would probably be Nassir Little (North Carolina) at #12. With #36 and #52 I could see them aiming for Kyle Guy (Virginia) or maybe Chuma Okeke (Auburn).
Next year's lineup:
Figure out Kemba, then we figure out the lineup. The whole roster feels like trade bait and they don't feel really solid--with or without Kemba. Without Kemba it is full-on teardown time; with Kemba, you try to wheel and deal mid-level contracts to construct something around Kemba. But until Kemba signs, I have no idea what they do.
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