The Charlotte Hornets are reportedly trying to move on from upcoming restricted free agent Frank Kaminsky. The team prefers to attach the big man’s contract to a larger scale contract, with the most prominent name being veteran wing Nicolas Batum. Charlotte is ‘desperate’ to move on from the Frenchman, according to Sean Deveney of Sporting News:
Teams have expressed interest, including some contenders, but the Hornets would most prefer to put the money remaining on Kaminsky’s $3.6 million deal with another big salary. Charlotte, according to league sources, is desperate to get out of the two years and $52 million remaining on Nicolas Batum’s salary, and at least one team was told that Kaminsky could be had if Batum were included.
While the team is trying to gauge any value that Kaminsky might have before likely letting him depart in restricted free agency, Batum’s gargantuan contract that still has two years and $52 million left would be much harder to move.
Kaminsky, who won a National Championship with the Wisconsin Badgers before being drafted in 2015, was almost traded on draft night in exchange for a huge package that included four first-round picks from the Boston Celtics. The deal was obviously declined, and Kaminsky hasn’t panned out nearly as well as the Hornets had hoped when they declined Boston’s offer.
Kaminsky is averaging just 5.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in just 22 games this season, as he has struggled to consistently crack the rotation under new head coach James Borrego. Batum, meanwhile, has also struggled for the Hornets, averaging just 8.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists as the team’s starting shooting guard this season.
The Hornets will now take on the task of moving two players that aren’t part of the team’s future in an effort to make the playoffs again after missing out last season.
