This year the Hornets should be fun to watch but the true ability to compete
will be next year when Lewis's contract comes off the books and we can decline
options on Aminu, Warrick and Henry and Mason expires. I expect the Hornets to pick up the team option of 2.15M for Vasquez. Here is what would be left...
PG: FREE AGENT, A Rivers, G Vasquez
SG: E Gordon, ROOKIE
SF: FREE AGENT, Darius Miller
PF: Davis, Anderson, Thomas
C: Lopez, Smith, ROOKIE
This would leave us with about 40 million in salary for next year with cap at
about 60M and luxuray tax not until 70M. That leaves close to 30 M for two
big-time free agents and two rookies. Here are some potential free agent
targets...
PG: UFA: C Paul (despite media attention highly unlikely), DJ Augustin
Due Qualifying Offers - S Curry, T Evans, and B Jennings
SF: UFA: J Smith, D Wright
Early termination option in contract - A Iguodala
Potential trade - Ideally would trade for scoring SF at trade deadline this year - R Gay top
target as Grizzlies need to fit Randolph, Gasol, and Conley under salary cap
(Gay is due 17.8M in 2013 and 19.3 in 2014)
Realistically, Paul is not coming back to NO so I would hope one of the three
PGs due a qualifying offer becomes available. Don't see Curry as an option as
they kept him over Ellis and Bucks have enough cash to keep Jennings. I think
we could add Evans for around 10M a season and Gay as our SF as well as 1-2
rookies to our young core and things could get interesting. Thoughts???