NBA Free Agency 2018: One signing every team should make

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Charlotte Hornets — Shane Larkin

The Hornets are in a tough position. They are a year away from Kemba Walker hitting the open market and are $41 million over the cap. They are team with bad contracts, with Nic Batum’s three years and over $75 million leading the way. Depending on Charlotte could get for Walker, it’s best path this summer might not be to spend, but to try and get off their bad money and give playing time to the few young guys they had. On paper, it’s just hard to envision this team being any good in James Borrego’s first year. There is also no need to try and do something drastic.

New GM Mitch Kupchak has said that a veteran point guard is on the team’s shopping list, so why not look for one that both has NBA experience and some upside? Shane Larkin fits that mold.

In Boston, he’s never going to jump ahead of Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart or Terry Rozier. But also made the most of the minutes he played last year when he filled in when those players dealt with various injuries. He defended well, showed some playmaking ability and did enough in an audition that some team should take a look at him as a backup this year.

At 26, he’s not going to make a big leap or become a starter; his 10.4 PER last season was still below average at the league’s deepest position. But, for next season, he’d be good enough to backup Walker if he sticks around and good enough bridge the gap for a season if Walker is dealt and Charlotte looks towards a reset. It’s not perfect, but there aren’t any perfect options for the Hornets this summer. Yogi Ferrell also would make sense for Charlotte.

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