Breaking down the members of the Hornets headed for free agency this summer, as well as those with player and team options for 2022-23.
Since the arrival of what we may as well call the LaMelo Ball Era, the Charlotte Hornets have been among the NBA’s most exciting teams to watch. For yet another year, however, Round 1 of the playoffs will begin without their participation after they fell short against the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference’s No. 9 vs. No. 10 Play-in Tournament game.
They’re still a young team, they still have some exciting talents in the form of Ball and Miles Bridges, and James Borrego is increasingly establishing himself as one to watch among basketball’s rising generation of coaches. This summer, however, there are some intriguing roster decisions GM Mitch Kupchak and governor Michael Jordan need to make
Check out Boardroom’s full breakdown of imminent Hornets free agents ahead of the 2022-23 season, as well as a snapshot of the team’s salary cap outlook as things currently stand.
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2022 Hornets Free Agents
Contract and salary figures via Spotrac unless otherwise noted.
1. SF Miles Bridges (restricted)
- Age: 24
- Expiring contract: 4 years, $16,317,853
- 2021-22 salary: $5,421,493
- NOTE: Restricted free agent status designates that a player’s current team reserves the right to match any rival team’s contract offer sheet in order to prevent that player’s departure.
2. PF Montrezl Harrell (unrestricted)
- Age: 28
- Expiring contract: 2 years, $18,978,900
- 2021-22 salary: $9,720,900
3. SF/PF Arnoldas Kulboka (restricted — two-way contract)
- Age: 24
- Expiring contract: 1 year, $462,629 (via HoopsHype)
- 2021-22 salary: $462,629
4. SG Scottie Lewis (restricted — two-way contract)
- Age: 22
- Expiring contract: 1 year, $462,629 (via HoopsHype)
- 2021-22 salary: $462,629
5. SF Cody Martin (restricted)
- Age: 26
- Expiring contract: 3 years, $4,473,912
- 2021-22 salary: $1,782,621
6. PG Isaiah Thomas (unrestricted)
- Age: 33
- Expiring contract: 1 year, $276,039
- 2021-22 salary: $276,039
Hornets Contract Options for 2022-23
Jalen McDaniels (team option)
- Current contract: 4 years, $6,129,593
- 2021-22 salary: $1,782,621
- 2022-23 option: $1,930,681
Hornets 2022 Salary Cap Numbers
All dollar figures and cap estimates via Spotrac as of April 14. Reflects a “soft” salary cap of $112.414 million, a luxury tax threshold of $136.606 million, and a $143.002 million luxury tax apron for hard-capped teams.
- Active contracts: $110,117,912
- Dead cap money: $10,680,972
- Total salary cap usage: $120,990,744
- Estimated 2021-22 luxury tax bill: None
- Salary on the books for 2022-23: $149,253,671
Click here to read Boardroom’s full breakdown of NBA salary cap spending by team this season.
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