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Charlotte Hornets Sign Tyler Hansbrough

By Andrew Kennedy

Dec 13, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey talks to guard DeMar DeRozan (10) and forward Tyler Hansbrough (50) and guard Terrence Ross (31) against the Philadelphia 76ers at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the 76ers 108-100. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey talks to guard DeMar DeRozan (10) and forward Tyler Hansbrough (50) and guard Terrence Ross (31) against the Philadelphia 76ers at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the 76ers 108-100. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to terms with Tyler Hansbrough. That’s right. Psycho T is returning to the state of North Carolina.

The terms of the deal are currently unknown.

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The Hornets hard-capped themselves at $77 million after using the bi-annual exception (better known as BAE) to sign Jeremy Lin to a two2-year, $4.3 million deal earlier this summer. Before including Lin, Aaron Harrison and Hansbrough’s contracts, the Hornets’s team salary was just a little more than $71 million.

Hansbrough will likely make around $2 million next season then and Charlotte won’t have much room to add anyone else with the roster now at 14 players.

This will be Hansbrough’s seventh season in the NBA after having one of the most illustrious college careers in recent history at North Carolina. Since his second season in the NBA, Hansbrough has seen his points and minutes per game decline.

Last year with the Toronto Raptors, he averaged just 3.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game and played just 48 total minutes in four playoff games.

Hansbrough has always been a unique finisher around the rim, having to do a lot of it from below the rim. He actually saw his field goal percentage rise to a very respectable 47.4 percent two years ago and 52.1 percent last season.

It’s certainly easier to shoot better when you aren’t playing a ton and appearing during garbage time, but maybe leaving the cloggy offense in Indiana contributed to Hansbrough’s improved shooting as well.

The other thing that is clogged is the frontcourt in Charlotte. Al Jefferson is the main man at center and then the team’s first-round draft picks from the last two drafts, Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky, should see a lot of playing time.

Throw in the trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for Spencer Hawes and whatever minutes Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Nicolas Batum operate at the 4 and Hansbrough may not see the light of day when the roster is totally healthy.

That depth does have some pretty excited.

One thing that will definitely be going for Hansbrough is the love the fans should show him. The change of scenery and returning to a place where you were once beloved (at least in part of the state) may be just what Hansbrough needs. Be sure to pay attention the first time Psycho T checks into a game next season, it will be a special kind of roar you hear from the fans.

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