Should the Charlotte Hornets Take a Chance on Carl Landry?
After being released by the Philadelphia76ers, Carl Landry is looking for a new team. Should the Charlotte Hornets take a chance and sign the veteran big man?
After spending just one season in Philadelphia, the 76ers have recently decided to waive NBA veteran Carl Landry. The team has plenty of young big men and it was unlikely that Landry would get the ample playing time that he was looking for this season. Now that he is a free agent, should the Charlotte Hornets take a chance on him?
The nine-year NBA veteran has bounced around the league as he has played for five different teams. He will now be looking to sign for his third different team in as many seasons. Even at his advanced age, Landry could prove to be a contributor to a contending team.
The 32-year old power forward wanted playing time entering a contract year but he would’ve been buried on the 76ers bench had he remained with the team. (Derek Bodner) Playing time is the main concern for Landry going forward. Sixers beat writer, Tom Moore, tweeted that “Landry ‘wants to play this year to earn his next deal”.
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Landry averaged 9.8 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per game last season in Philadelphia. He appeared in 36 games for the 76ers and averaged 15.8 minutes per game. Carl shot 55.6% from the field, 46.2% from the three-point line, and 73.6% from the free throw line.
Even though he started in 12 games for the team, they decided to waive his $6.5 million deal for the 2016-17 season. Now that Landry is a free agent, the Charlotte Hornets may want to look into signing him. His veteran presence on the team could help them in the long run and he may even be able to contribute as an emergency big man.
If Charlotte’s able to move Spencer Hawes‘ contract this summer, Carl Landry could be the perfect replacement. He would likely play behind Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller, Frank Kaminsky, and Roy Hibbert. Even though Christian Wood is on the roster, he could spend a majority of the season in the D-League with the Greensboro Swarm.
Landry would be a veteran off the bench and could be a great fit in Steve Clifford’s system. The 6’8 power forward has the ability to knock down outside shots as well as play in a team concept. The plethora of young big men on the 76ers roster crowded his play. The struggling roster also overshadowed his game and didn’t allow Carl to play to his full potential in Philadelphia. Landry could have a career resurgence with a successful team like the Charlotte Hornets.
I think that the Hornets should sign Carl Landry because he would likely only cost them a veterans minimum contract. It would be a low risk-high reward situation and giving him a chance to prove himself could pay off for the team. He would cost significantly less than Hawes’ current deal and he is a great fit for Charlotte’s roster. A contract between the two sides is unlikely if Spencer is on the roster but if the team moves Hawes, then Landry becomes an immediate target.
With the Charlotte Hornets’ roster already full, it is unlikely that they sign him unless a few moves are made. It will be interesting to see if other NBA teams attempt to sign him before the regular season begins. With training camps drawing closer, a team may give him a shot.
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