‣ The Charlotte Hornets are signing free agent guard Edmond Sumner to a one-year contract.
‣ Sumner has previously played for the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets.
‣ The Hornets have also signed guard Theo Maledon to a two-way contract.
OFFICIAL: We have signed free agent guards R.J. Hunter and Edmond Sumner. @CorcoranHM
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets)
Details
The Charlotte Hornets have made a move in the offseason by signing free agent guard Edmond Sumner to a one-year contract. Sumner, who was drafted 52nd overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, has had stints with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Indiana Pacers. He has shown promise in his limited playing time, averaging 2.9 points and 1.0 rebound per game with the Pacers in the 2018-19 season.
In terms of odds, the Hornets currently have the 30th-ranked odds to win the championship in the upcoming season. However, other teams such as the Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and Orlando Magic have better odds according to sportsbooks. It will be interesting to see how the Hornets perform and if they can exceed expectations.
On a positive note, Sumner’s career has seen some highs despite setbacks. He made three starts with the Pacers in the 2019-20 season, averaging 4.9 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. However, he suffered a torn ACL in September 2021, causing him to miss the entire 2021-22 season. He was then traded to the Brooklyn Nets but was waived shortly after. Fortunately, the Nets re-signed Sumner to a two-year contract, and he made a comeback in the 2022-23 season, averaging 7.1 points and shooting a career-best 91.7% at the free-throw line.
As for the Hornets, they have made other moves in addition to signing Sumner. They have waived forwards Angelo Allegri and Tre Scott and guard Jaylen Sims. On the other hand, they have added guard Theo Maledon to a two-way contract. Maledon will be joining guard Amari Bailey and forward Leaky Black as the Hornets’ two-way players. These players will spend time with the Greensboro Swarm, Charlotte’s G League affiliate, during the 2022-23 season. It’s worth noting that two-way players are ineligible for the NBA playoffs, but their contracts can potentially be converted into regular deals.
