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2022 Free Agents - Mason Plumlee

Summary
While Plumlee has enough athleticism to block shots and catch some lobs, he has never been a great rim protector or lethal pick-and-roll threat. He finishes well at the rim, but his shooting percentages are poor anywhere outside of four feet.

Plumlee doesn't have much of an offensive game in general. When he gets the ball in the post, even against a good matchup, he can often throw up low-chance shot attempts. He also is a poor free-throw shooter at 56% for his career, including an awful 39% in '21-'22. He even switched his shooting hand near the end of the season to try and fix his free throws. Plumlee's assist numbers are actually pretty good for his position, but he isn't known as an above-average passer.

Because Plumlee knows his role, runs the floor well, rebounds, and finishes inside, he can be a serviceable rim-running center. I would much prefer to have Plumlee as a backup rather than a starter, and I'm sure Charlotte will be looking to upgrade at the center positions and move him toward a backup role if they hang on to him in '22-'23. Plumlee is already 32 years old, so if he does hit free agency I would not expect him to get any long-term offers. 
 
Cap Considerations
Plumlee's $9.1 million salary for 2022-2023 is only $4.3 million guaranteed, and if he is waived he will become an unrestricted free agent and the Hornets will have no form of Bird rights on him.

If Plumlee's contract was fully non-guaranteed, I might expect him to be waived, but the Hornets may be dangerously close to the luxury tax, and not want any dead salary on their books, even if they can stretch Plumlee's guaranteed salary over three years.

If Plumlee becomes a free agent, other teams will have multiple ways to sign Plumlee as even teams without cap space could possibly use any of the Non-Taxpayer MLE, Taxpayer MLE, or possibly even the Room MLE or Bi-Annual Exception to sign him.

Potential Teams: Hornets, Raptors, Timberwolves, Suns, Nuggets

Predicted Contract: Not waived: $9.1 million
If waived: 2-year, $12 million with the Raptors

Actual Contract: Not waived: $9.1 million
As expected, Plumlee was not waived by the Hornets, but could end up being traded if they need to create additional space below the luxury tax.

Last updated: 6/22/2022

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