Breakdown Of EVERY MAJOR Jeff Peterson Offseason Move So Far
Let's take a deep look at what Jeff Peterson has done so far and what it means for what the Hornets are looking to build.
Laying The Foundation
Since taking over as the Executive Vice President of basketball operations for the Charlotte Hornets on February 29th, 2024 Jeff Peterson has made it clear the type of players he wants on his roster moving forward and a commitment to building a successful franchise the right way. Before we dive into all of those moves it’s important to identify why Peterson wants a specific type of player; a high effort, high IQ, team centric type of players. Charles Lee, a two-time NBA champion for the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics as a assistant coach. Lee started under Mike Budenholzer on the Atlanta Hawks (2014-2018) following Bud to the Bucks (2018-2023) to win a championship while on his staff in 2021. Lee has been a top Head Coach candidate for multiple head coaching cycles now, finally Lee was given an opportunity to be a head coach for the Charlotte Hornets. Lee brings a defensive focus to a Hornets team that has struggled defensively but has good defensive players that just need to be utilized in the right defensive system, Lee wants the Hornets to play in transition a Run N Gun style with a high number a 3’s in half court sets. Now that you know the two main players of the team’s fundamental constructions lets dive into Peterson’s moves as the VP.
Drafting Tidjane Salaün & K.J. Simpson
The first move that Jeff Peterson made was on June 26th the night of the NBA draft night where the Charlotte Hornets drafted Tidjane Salaün with the 6th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Salaün is a high risk, high reward player a 6”9-6”10 PF/SF. Salaün is a very raw prospect but has recently turned 19 years old and was the youngest player in the NBA draft this past year. He plays with an extremely high motor, high effort on the defensive end going for loose balls, running in transition on the offensive end. The highlights of his skillset is his feel for when to cut and his ability to finish those attempts with a 70% shooting percentage on his cuts (29/41) has a good shooting form projects to be a solid all-around 4 in the NBA. But, his high energy and never quit playstyle is what Jeff Peterson fell in love with and was why he may have passed up on other player who may have been the consensus better prospect for a player that fit his team’s identity.
K.J Simpson is a 6”2 22 year-old Point Guard who averaged 19.7 PPG for the Colorado Buffaloes this year leading the team to a 26-11 record earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament. K.J is a smaller guard at the pro level and will be interesting to see how he develops but he shot 43% from three-point range this past season, can play off the ball although he did very well with the ball in his hands, plays hard on both sides and can actually create offense inside and out so a solid pick in the 2nd and a player who also fits that high motor, high IQ type of player Jeff is looking for.
Acquiring Josh Green Via Mavs
The move to acquire Josh Green started on NBA draft night (June 26th) when the Charlotte Hornets traded cash considerations for Guard Reggie Jackson (later released on waivers) and 3 second round picks from The Denver Nuggets. Then on July 6th traded cash considerations and a trade exception to the San Antonio Spurs for Devontae Graham (who was later waived) and a 2025 2nd round pick. Charlotte then sent the 2029 & 2030 2nd round picks acquired via Denver in the Reggie Jackson trade to the Dallas Mavericks to acquire wing Josh Green. Green found himself out of the rotation after the acquisition of Klay Thompson in the first ever 6-team trade in NBA history. Grabbing a player who played important minutes on a team that made it to the NBA finals for just two 2nd round picks from another team is just simple and easy business getting a player that immediately could be a starter on this roster boasters the depth at the wing position. Green is a 3&D wing in every sense of the word. Green coming off of two seasons of shooting 38% & 40% from three-point range provides a shooting consistency this team needs ranking as one of the top 10 worst three-point shooting teams last season. Green a player who rarely has the ball for more than cut dunks, open three point attempts on catch and shoot opportunities fits seamlessly into most NBA offenses and I expect him to have a good season for the Charlotte Hornets still only 24 years old.
Signing Vets Taj Gibson & Seth Curry
On July 13th & July 15th The Charlotte Hornets signed Seth Curry & Taj Gibson to vet minimum one-year contracts. Taj Gibson is going into his 16th season in the NBA and is viewed as one of the top vets/mentors in the NBA. Gibson will push the young players on the Charlotte Hornets something the team has been missing from their veteran leadership for multiple seasons now also fits perfectly into that high motor type of player that the Hornets want. Gibson should help the development of the young big men that the Hornets have on the roster currently. Seth Curry returns to the Hornets on a vet-minimum contract providing good 3rd string depth at the guard positions a career 40+% three-point shooter, Curry also provides 11 years of NBA experience and was reliable when he played last season look for him to help NSJ and the other great three-point shooting young players that the Hornets have on the roster.
Re-Signing Miles Bridges
Miles Bridges on July 15th signed a three-year $75 Million contract. Miles bridges contract conversations where long and hard at one point it looked like the LA Clippers were going to land Miles Bridges in a sign & trade but those conversations never materialized. Miles Bridges who was looking for close to 30 Million annually for 4-years ended up settling on a shorter descending contract going from 27.1M-25M-22.82M each of the next 3 years. From a front office standpoint I want to give props to Peterson for standing strong in contract negotiations with Rich Paul and ClutchSports in past regimes I could easily see the front office overvaluing home grown talent and the fear of losing Miles Bridges after enduring so much media backlash for keeping him with the organization. From the contract’s prospective this is a deal that in any of the next 3 years will be viable tradable contract if the organization feels at some point they can get the proper value for a two time 20+ PPG scorer. But for next season I’m excited to see if Miles Bridges can excel in a #3 option role and take more of a focus on the defensive side of the ball. Possibly with less offensive responsibility will allow his efficiency to improve that was well below league average across the board last season.
How did he do?
This off-season Peterson has moved on from young players that did not fit the type of playstyle the Hornets where looking for. Drafted high ceiling, high effort players who can play a role around star players. Signed veteran players who would instill the traits that lead to great team development. Signed there key free agent to a long-term team friendly deal. Overall Peterson did well, one area I hope he is able to find before training camp will be a POA guard defender to help out the good defenders that are already on the roster like Cody Martin, Josh Green, Mark Williams, Nick Richards, and Tre Mann. But there is still time to address that need in the coming months.
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