Jeremy Lin (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
Teams with multiple free agents will be open to a lot of possible scenarios. The Charlotte Hornets is probably the best example.
The Hornets were the surprise playoff team in the East. Not only did they make the playoffs, they also forced pre-season favorite Miami Heat all the way to a seventh game in their first round match-up.
Surely, a team that overachieved should stay together, but with five rotation players hitting free agency, the Hornets ownership headed by Michael Jordan should come up with a "Jordan-esque" performance in the offseason.
The worst case scenario for Charlotte is to see all five free agents depart: Nicolas Batum, Al Jefferson, Marvin Williams, Courtney Lee and Jeremy Lin, who can (and most likely, will) exercise his player option. Lin has stated that he wants to stay in Charlotte, but can the Hornets afford to keep him?
Lin will have options as Sporting News pointed out with the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers.
"Lin has strong ties to both coaching staffs from his 'Linsanity' run with the Knicks," SN writer Adi Joseph stated. "Mike D'Antoni, then New York's head coach, is now a 76ers assistant, while Kenny Atkinson, then D'Antoni's assistant, is now the newly hired Nets head coach. Lin frequently credits both coaches with his early-career success."
The Hornets have an outstanding starting point guard in Kemba Walker and most pundits believe that Nic Batum is the top priority in Charlotte. As great a fit as Lin may be, there could be other options for the Hornets. One of the suggestions from Hoops Habit is pursuing Golden State Warriors' forward Harrison Barnes.
In this hypothetical scenario, the Hornets find trade partners for Jeremy Lamb and Spencer Hawes.
"If those two players head out, then Charlotte could free up $24 million in cap space while retaining Batum and Courtney Lee," according to Joshua Cornelissen of HH. "In this scenario, they then sign Harrison Barnes to a four-year/$80 million contract. Barnes went to college at North Carolina and could be open to returning, especially to join a competing core in a system that would feel similar to the one he is leaving."
Barnes is one of the better options at the three in terms of talent and potential but his status as a restricted free agent gave the impression that he's not available. But Golden State has too much wealth on its plate and they may have also the dilemma of the Hornets-having to choose between their own free agents.
