Charlotte Hornets Roster
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Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball is "likely" to sign a contract extension with the team following the NBA Draft, per Bobby Marks. The 21-year-old Ball is coming off an injury-riddled campaign, limited to just 36 games by lingering ankle injuries. He remains the obvious franchise cornerstone player, however, after putting up 23.3 points, 8.4 assists, and 6.4 rebounds per game for the Hornets during the 2022-2023 season. The former Rookie of the Year has just one year remaining on his team-friendly rookie deal, so Charlotte might want to get a move on in locking up the star playmaker before long.
Charlotte Hornets forward/center P.J. Washington wants to remain with the team. The 24-year-old rejected a rookie extension in October, so he'll be a restricted free agent this offseason, giving Charlotte the right to match any offers from clubs around the league. The Hornets will likely do what it takes to keep Washington on the roster, considering he finished the 2022-23 campaign by averaging 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 73 games. His versatility allows him to play multiple positions, a plus for fantasy managers. However, his shooting percentages have decreased over the years, which could negatively impact his stock in category formats.
Charlotte Hornets forward Kelly Oubre Jr. is set to become a free agent this season. Despite that, Oubre mentioned he'd like to remain with the Hornets going forward. However, he also said that he understands there's a business side to basketball. That means, if the money isn't there or the Hornets don't want him then he'll head elsewhere. Oubre is coming off a fairly strong season in Charlotte. He averaged a career-high 20.2 points. 5.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 48 games. The injuries kept him down at times, but Oubre was solid whenever he was able to get on the court. It'll be interesting to see if the Hornets want Oubre to be part of their future plans.
Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington is set to become a restricted free agent this summer. Although, the 24-year-old said his preference would be to stay in Charlotte. Washington might be looking at a nice contract this offseason after the season he put together. He averaged a career-high 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in a career-most 73 games. He missed the final few games of the season due to injury, but was consistent outside of that. Washington averaged 32.6 minutes per game this season, so it won't be easy to replace that if he ends up leaving. However, it sounds like the young forward wants to remain with the team and help build a contender.
Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams completed his rookie campaign with a nice 22-point, 10-rebound double-double Sunday versus Cleveland. He was near-perfect from the field with a 9-for-10 effort and helped the team to end a disappointing campaign on a high note, with the Hornets stinging the home team with a 106-95 victory. In 30 minutes on the floor, Williams also made a big impact defensively, blocking two shots and picking up one steal. From a fantasy perspective, the 21-year-old showed good potential during his first year in the league, averaging 11.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks as a starter. He settled for 9.0 points and 7.1 rebounds in 43 games across the whole season.
