Hornets won’t go ‘big-game hunting’ even if Jordan sells

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornetsaren’t expected to be big spenders in free agency this summer evenif Michael Jordan sells the team.

The Hornets are a projected $39 million under the NBA salary capfor next season — which ranks in the top 10 in the league in termsof available spending money — but the team plans to focus onre-signing their own players and adding others through the draftand “savvy trades,” according to general manager Mitch Kupchak.

“Although we have a lot of financial flexibility, we don’ttypically go big-game hunting with our free agent money,” Kupchaksaid Tuesday.

He then added, “We’re going to use that to sign backplayers.”

The Hornets (27-55) finished with the fourth-worst record in theleague, so they’re guaranteed to pick somewhere between 1 and 8depending on the outcome of the May 16 draft lottery. Charlotte hasfive draft picks in all, including two in the first round, althoughKupchak indicated it’s unlikely the team will use them all.

The Hornets haven’t won a playoff series in more than twodecades, and Jordan has been criticized at times by fans for notspending enough money to get big-name free agents.

Last month, Jordan’s family office released a statement sayingthe six-time NBA champion is considering selling another portion ofthe team to Hornets minority owner Gabe Plotkin. While it’s unclearif Jordan will give up his majority stake in the team, Kupchakindicated it is largely irrelevant in terms of the Hornets buildingprocess.

“Typically, the basketball operations (such as) players,contracts, who you draft and all that stuff doesn’t really getaffected by that,” Kupchak said of a potential change inownership.

Kupchak’s first priority will be re-signing restricted freeagent P.J. Washington, who appears to have nailed down the starting4 spot after averaging 15.7 points per game.

Whether or not the team makes a move to bring back restrictedfree agent Miles Bridges remains to be seen.

Bridges was charged with three counts of domestic violence lastsummer, and although the case has since been settled the league isstill looking into the matter and he could face disciplinaryaction. Kupchak said until the team hears from the league it’s notgoing to act on Bridges, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder inthe 2021-22 season.

“Even when (the NBA) completes its investigation, there aregoing to be steps that need to be taken, whether it’s from us orother teams,” Kupchak said. “It looks like, for certain, that thisis going to go over to July first. There was maybe some thoughtthat us or somebody would sign him during the season, well, that’snot possible.”

The Hornets are coming off a 27-55 season, missing the playoffsfor the seventh straight season — the longest such streak in theleague.

Bridges’ absence and a rash of injuries to key players such asLaMelo Ball, who was limited to 36 games due to ankle issues, was abig reason why the team didn’t build on its 43-win season from ayear ago. Charlotte finished the season with none of its openingnight starters in the lineup.

But Kupchak said the injuries could serve as a “silver lining”because it allowed some of the team’s younger players, includingrookie center Mark Williams, to gain experience. Williams isexpected to start again next season, Kupchak said.

The hope is players like Williams, Nick Richards, BryceMcGowens, JT Thor and James Bouknight develop into starters, andthe Hornets begin to build a winning franchise.

It may not be the fastest way to success, but Kuchak isconfident it’s the best way — for now.

“Maybe one day we will get to the point where a marquee freeagent would look at our team and we’re winning a bunch of games andhe’ll say, ’Hey, that’s a place I really want to go,” Kupchak said.“But right now, I don’t think that’s realistic. We’ve got to do itthrough the draft primarily.”