James Nnaji's Contract Situation

Will he play in summer league? When does his Barcelona contract expire?

The Hornets traded two draft picks, No. 34 and 39, to move up to No. 31 in the draft, selecting James Nnaji, a Nigerian Center who plays for FC Barcelona, one of the top European teams.

Gerard Solé, a play-by-play commentator for DAZN in Spain who broadcasts FC Barcelona's games, spoke to All Hornets SI and revealed that James Nnaji has a contract with FC Barcelona until 2027. If Nnaji and Charlotte agree for him to come to the NBA, both the player and the team will have to pay his release clause. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, Nnaji has a "Very Small" buyout, so that won't be a challenge. The timing of when the contract buyout occurs however is uncertain, Solé shared his view:

"What I was told is that he's not thinking right now 100% to leave Barcelona. He's evaluating his situation with his agent."

Will Nnaji play in Summer League? Solé shared his thoughts on that exact question: 

"It's not guaranteed that he'll play in the Summer League, but he wants to play and Barcelona will probably allow him to play". 

It is likely that Nnaji will continue playing overseas for another year. The Hornets already have Mark Williams, Nick Richards, and Kai Jones in their front court rotation for the next season, so it would be beneficial for both Nnaji and the team to give him more time to develop. 

Nnaji started playing basketball relatively late and is still inexperienced, making him unlikely to be ready for the NBA. Waiting 1-2 years for Nnaji to improve his weaknesses and become more well-rounded before starting his rookie contract as a capable NBA player is a sensible approach.

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