Grading the Hornets' Offseason Moves

Evaluating how many things the Charlotte Hornets got right so far this offseason.

It hasn't been a super active offseason for the Charlotte Hornets, but there have been some pretty big moves to help counter the lack of activity. With PJ Washington still weighing his options, I'm leaving him off the report card for now.

But here is how I graded the Hornets on the other four "moves" that did go through.

Letting Dennis Smith Jr. walk: F

Of all the free agents the Hornets had, I figured Dennis Smith Jr. would be the most likely to return. He's a perfect fit for what Steve Clifford wants at the backup guard position. A stronger offer may have done the trick, but regardless, this is a bigger loss than it would appear on paper. The free agent market is extremely thin and now, it may cause Charlotte to make a trade.

Drafting Brandon Miller No. 2 overall: A

I understand the frustration of not taking Scoot Henderson, I do. I believe he's the better talent, but the Hornets went for need at No. 2 with Brandon Miller. That's not a knock on his talent though. He has every bit of a chance to become an all-league player as Scoot does. And to be honest, this really is what the Hornets need -- someone that can go out and drop 30 on any given night. Scoot may develop into that type of offensive player, but he has a lot to work on to get to that point. Miller can do it a lot sooner and will be a better fit alongside LaMelo Ball.

Submitting qualifying offer & signing RFA Miles Bridges: C

I'm torn on whether or not bringing back Bridges was the right decision. Is he the same player he was two years ago? Can you trust him off the court? These are two legitimate questions that the organization had to consider and obviously that trust (maybe it's hope) is there. The one positive about his return is that financially, it's not much of a risk. It's a one-year commitment at a relatively cheap price tag.

Extending LaMelo Ball to a five-year max deal: A+

The Hornets had to get this deal done to even have a chance of pushing toward relevancy in the Eastern Conference. Injuries are a concern, yes, but you have to be willing to push all your chips to the center of the table for a talent like LaMelo. He is well worth the risk. He is the cornerstone piece of this rebuild.

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