The Charlotte Hornets and their restricted free agent forward, P.J. Washington, have reached a mutual agreement on a fresh three-year contract worth $48 million. This significant development was officially confirmed by Kevin Bradbury, the agent from LIFT Sports Management, and Paul Washington Sr. from Washington Sports Group on Saturday. Under the terms of this new deal, Washington will receive an annual salary of $16 million.
This collaboration comes after the Hornets extended a $8.49 million qualifying offer to Washington in June, granting him the opportunity to explore restricted free agency. By doing so, the 25-year-old forward successfully evaded becoming the second Hornets player to accept a qualifying offer, a decision that would have rendered him eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2025. Notably, forward Miles Bridges had taken a similar route in July.
Standing at 6 feet 7 inches, Washington was handpicked as the 12th overall selection by the Hornets during the 2019 NBA Draft, having honed his skills at the University of Kentucky. His rookie season in 2019-20 witnessed him making an impressive 57 starts out of 58 appearances, contributing an average of 12.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 30.3 minutes per game.
This remarkable progress earned Washington a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, underscoring his valuable contributions. The subsequent 2022-23 season marked a period of significant growth for him, as he achieved career-best averages of 15.7 points and 2.0 three-pointers per game while making 73 starts.
A pivotal moment in Washington's journey occurred during Charlotte's exhilarating 137-134 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 28, 2023. In this memorable game, Washington delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a career-high 43 points within 38 minutes as a starter.
Furthermore, he etched his name in Hornets history by becoming the sixth player to record at least 40 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a single game. In this same match, Washington's proficiency was evident with a field goal percentage of 66.7%, a three-point success rate of 55.6%, and a free-throw percentage of 85.7%.
Reflecting on his remarkable achievement, Washington expressed gratitude towards his teammates for placing him in advantageous positions on the court and underscored his determination to take assertive shots.
Notably, Washington holds the distinction of being the first Hornets player in franchise history to maintain an average of at least two three-pointers and one block per game in a single season, a milestone confirmed by ESPN Stats Information.
In terms of the team's roster composition, the Hornets have solidified contracts with 13 players under guaranteed terms, including two under two-way agreements—Leaky Black and Amari Bailey. Moreover, Angelo Allegri, Tre Scott, R.J. Hunter, and Nathan Mensah have secured contracts for the training camp period.
However, the Hornets recently waived Xavier Sneed. Additionally, players such as Kobi Simmons, JT Thor, and Frank Ntilikina are signed under non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts.
As the team continues to evolve, there are still ongoing negotiations with second-round draft pick James Nnaji. Similarly, the contract situation for restricted free agent Theo Maledon remains unresolved.
In a positive development, the Hornets are entering a new era under the leadership of the ownership group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall. This promising outlook bodes well for the future of the team.
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