Grading the Charlotte Hornets' 2015 NBA Free Agency

Jeremy Lin, Charlotte Hornets
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So, how do we grade the Charlotte Hornets 2015 free agency period? Going into the offseason, the Hornets’ major objective was clear – obtain more offense.

They accomplished their goals mainly through trades, bringing in Nicolas Batum, Spencer Hawes and Jeremy Lamb to give them more punch on the scoring end. But they made a little rumble in the waters by signing another Jeremy – Jeremy Lin – to a modest two-year contract.

To the outside world, signing Lin doesn’t seem like much, but the Hornets addressed a real big need here. With Mo Williams now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte needed a point guard in the second unit who could create plays for himself and his teammates, and they got both with Lin.

Jeremy had a hard time fitting in with his previous two employers – the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers – mainly because those teams didn’t run a system that he felt comfortable being in. He was expected to be more of a floor leader than a scorer, and that’s not who he is.

Lin is a second-unit guard who can bring an offensive spark off the bench, and that’s exactly what Hornet’s head coach Steve Clifford saw in Lin before the team brought him aboard. They saw a player who can direct a much improved second unit, and the system that Charlotte runs – one that relies on the lead guards to create offensive opportunities – will be a perfect match for Lin.

So although the Hornets didn’t make a big splash in free agency, they addressed a glaring need, and that earns them an A from me.

Kareem Gantt covers the wide world of sports for Rant Sports. Want to know what’s on his mind 24/7? Follow him on Twitter at @kganttwrites.

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