*NEW ACQUISITION∂23 wins ∂Miss the playoffs ∂Michael Jordan will beat Terry Rozier at one-on-one after a practice.StartersCharlotte made arguably the most
widely derided combination of
moves this summer, declining to
offer franchise icon Kemba Walker
a supermax contract, letting him
leave in free agency and then replacing him by
signing Terry Rozier, a career backup, to a bloated,
three-year, $58 million contract. The Hornets were
9.2 POINTS PER 100 POSSESSIONS WORSE when
Walker was off the floor last season. Playing like an
MVP candidate for the first couple of months, he
finished the season averaging 35.9 points, assists
and rebounds combined in 34.9 minutes; Rozier
averaged 15.8 in 22.7 for Boston.
Outside of the Rozier-for-Walker swap, this
year’s roster remains remarkably similar.
Barring huge leaps forward from unproven
youngsters Dwayne Bacon, Malik Monk and
Miles Bridges (a potential breakout player), the
Hornets are going to find out the hard way just
how valuable Walker was. —R.N.9.2
TELLING NUMBER
TERRY
ROZIER*
9.0 PPG; 3.9 RPG;
2.9 APG; 38.7 FG%PG
DWAYNE
BACON- 3 PPG; 2.1 RPG;
47.5 FG%; 43.7 3FG%
SGENEMY LINES
A rival scout weighs inThey’re gonna be
bad. They might be
the worst team in the
NBA. TERRY ROZIER will
put up a lot of points,
but I don’t like him at
all. I just don’t know
what he does well. He
makes tough shots
every now and thenand kind of plays hard
on defense. But he was
like the eighth option in
Boston playing against
backups and now he’s
going to be the guy?...
I just don’t know
where this roster’s
going. None of their
young players excite
me. You got nothing
for Kemba [Walker],
and that’s just sad.
[Owner] Michael Jordanis attached to North
Carolina players and
guys he really likes, and
it’s really bad. I feel for
James Borrego. Let him
have a personal touch.
If the idea is they’re
going to build culture
and style of play, will
they be O.K. with losing
and playing young
guys? Does it give JB
a chance to put in a
system and develop it?That’s my lipstick on
the pig. Last year they
just kind of balled and
let Kemba shoot every
time.... I’ve always had
a little bit of a crush
on WILLY HERNANGÓMEZ.
I’m a sucker for big
guys with footwork....
PJ WASHINGTON seems
like he’ll play hard, but
how are they gonna be
able to use him?...
When do they finallymove NIC BATUM? Who
wants that contract
[$52.7 million for two
years, including a player
option next year]?...
MARVIN WILLIAMS is a
great locker room guy.
He could be a trade
piece. A team could
get him into their
program, then get
him in on a long-term
deal as a nice backup
shooting four.Projected Lineup
MALIK
MONK
8.9 PPG; 1.9 RPG;
38.7 FG%; 33.0 3FG%SG
MARVIN
WILLIAMS
10.1 PPG; 5.4 RPG;
1.2 APG; 42.2 FG%PFBench
PF
MILES
BRIDGES- 5 PPG; 4.0 RPG;
1.2 APG; 46.4 FG%
NICOLAS
BATUM
9.3 PPG; 5.2 RPG;
3.3 APG; 45.0 FG%SFCrystal Ball:
CODY
ZELLER
10.1 PPG; 6.8 RPG;
2.1 APG; 55.1 FG%C83STEPHEN GOSLING/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (BATUM)
Hornets
CHARLOTTE
2018 – 19 RECORD 39– 43 2nd in Southeast
COACH JAMES BORREGO 2nd season with HornetsTHE
EAST