Aaron Harrison to Hornets: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction
The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to a two-year contract with former Kentucky guard Aaron Harrison, who went undrafted but did enough in the Orlando Summer League to merit the offer.
Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news on Saturday. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer confirmed the deal and weighed in on Harrison's presence at Hornets camp:
Harrison averaged 13.4 points in five summer league games and also had 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per contest. Despite going just 14-of-21 on free throws and missing 16 of 21 three-pointers, Charlotte is taking a low-risk flier on Harrison's evident upside.
Synergy Sports Tech dove a bit deeper into Harrison's impressive summer league stint:
Kentucky fans are well-acquainted with how talented Harrison is. The entire nation found out when his skills and composure in the clutch combined in the 2014 NCAA tournament, when Harrison hit three game-winning shots amid March Madness.
Since the Hornets traded Lance Stephenson and dealt away Gerald Henderson as part of the swap to acquire Nic Batum, they have a void at the 2-guard spot that's begging to be filled. Last year's first-round pick, P.J. Hairston, hasn't looked up to the task of being the future answer at the position. Hairston shot just 33 percent from the field in Orlando.
There's at least a chance Harrison can develop into a dependable bench player and even a spark for instant offense. Charlotte needs serious scoring help and athleticism on the perimeter to get points in transition after having the league's ninth-slowest pace in 2014-15, per NBA.com, and ranking 28th in scoring.
Even if he isn't ready for the NBA right away, Harrison is worth keeping within the organization to develop. A stint in the D-League seems likely, but the Hornets' current roster makeup could create a chance for Harrison to make it to the highest level if he flashes enough before the season starts.
