ESPN's Bobby Marks proposes a lucrative multi-year deal to keep high-scoring guard Coby White with the Charlotte Hornets, solidifying an ascending core primed for a serious Eastern Conference playoff push.
The Charlotte Hornets should feel confident about their ability to buy in for a playoff run next season after making the Play-In Tournament this spring.
The Hornets are ascending and should be even better with a talented 2025 class, led by Kon Knueppel, getting another offseason under their belt.
The Hornets offense showed huge growth with LaMelo Ball, Coby White, and Knueppel last season. Charlotte needs to help at forward and center this offseason. The Hornets also need to beef up the defense.
With that being said, the Hornets have no reason to abandon the high-octane offense.
Bobby Marks of ESPN suggested a three-year, $54 million offer for Coby White would make sense this offseason.
"The deal I'd offer: Three years, $54 million," Marks wrote. "The contract is $4 million less than the extension Andrew Nembhard signed with Indiana. The first year is $16.5 million and increases each season with a player option in the third year."
Marks thinks the best fits for White would be the Hornets or Detroit Pistons. Given the stakes of the postseason in the Eastern Conference, Charlotte should try to keep him away from Detroit.
"The Hornets started free agency early when they acquired White at the February trade deadline," he wrote. "They inherited his Bird rights, allowing them to sign him as a free agent and exceed the salary cap. Without the trade, Charlotte did not have cap space to sign the guard outright.
"In 21 games off the bench after the trade, White averaged 15.6 points and shot 39.1% on 3-pointers. White scored 19 points, including hitting 5-of-8 from 3, in a play-in win against Miami. It was the 18th time in 23 games White scored double-digit points."
White has shown flashes of being a star during his time with the Chicago Bulls and Hornets. He is a major scoring threat, though his defense has a lot to be desired.
Still, the Hornets should keep White and help with the defense at other parts of the lineup. He could be even better for Charlotte next season as he gets an offseason to work with the team.
