Charlotte Hornets: 2016 Offseason Grades

Feb 19, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams (2) is congratulated by guard Nicolas Batum (5) after scoring during the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Charlotte won 98-95. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 23, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Roy Hibbert (17) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Lakers 119-107. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Hope For Hibbert

With Al Jefferson gone, the Hornets needed a backup center. Though he’s the complete opposite of Jefferson — with one being an effective back-to-the-basket scorer and woeful defender and the other being a pitiful scorer but a formerly effective rim protector — getting Roy Hibbert on a one-year, $5 million deal is hardly a risk.

Hibbert’s value has never been lower, coming off a season with the Los Angeles Lakers that was supposed to restore his reputation as a defensive stalwart and formidable interior defender.

Instead, he averaged just 5.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, shooting a miserable 44.3 percent from the field and failing to prevent the Lakers’ defense from its league-wide ranking of dead last.

However, a one-year, $5 million flier is worth it for a player who was once in the Defensive Player of the Year Award discussion, especially since he’ll be joining a Steve Clifford-led team that takes pride in its defense. He’s no longer a starting-caliber center, but this is a quality pickup for the bench — even if it winds up being the final nail in the coffin of Hibbert’s NBA career.

Grade: B+

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