What PJ Washington's Return Means for the Charlotte Hornets
Now that P.J. Washington has agreed to a new three-year, $48 million deal with the Hornets, as ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Friday, Charlotte fans can breathe a sigh of relief that Washington will be back in the fold for the Hornets' 2023-24 season and beyond.
But what does it mean for Charlotte now that P.J. is back to stay?
Washington was the NBA's final unsigned restricted free agent this summer. At long last, the new deal brings to a close the drawn-out P.J. Washington mystery — and it was a mystery, with rumors and reports that now seem like red herrings — that hung over the Hornets' offseason.
Washington proved his value to the organization by increasing his production each year with Charlotte since he was selected 12th overall pick by the Hornets in the 2019 NBA Draft. But will he take a back seat to a returning Miles Bridges at forward after Bridges serves his 10-game suspension to start the 2023-24 season? Last season, with Bridges out, Washington played in and started 73 games and posted a new career high in points per game (15.7).
The terms of Washington's new deal break the reported "stalemate" he and the Hornets still faced early in August, when after more than a month of NBA free agency, rumors had him still holding out. The chances of Washington not re-signing a long-term deal with the Hornets led to speculation of a possible sign-and-trade with the Dallas Mavericks, the rumors of which erupted in early July when Washington unfollowed the Hornets on Instagram and updated his location to Dallas on Twitter (now X).
A sign-and-trade only seemed plausible over the unlikely instance he would sign the qualifying offer with the Hornets, said to be worth around $8.5 million, which would have made him an unrestricted free agent next summer. But now, the reported $48 million figure puts Washington at a salary of $16 million per season — not quite the $20 million some reports had him seeking, but still within a safe range of $15–$17 million that several commentators deemed fair.
The Hornets' roster for 2023-24 is now locked in with Washington back alongside star Lamelo Ball, who signed his five-year designated rookie max extension with Charlotte last month, and the incoming rookies Brandon Miller, 2023's No. 2 overall draft pick, and Nick Smith Jr. — not to mention a returning Mark Williams, Gordon Hayward and Nick Richards. (Recent signings of R.J. Hunter and Frank Ntilikina put the Hornets' roster at 18.)
Will Washington continue to improve over the next three seasons? His career high points in 2022-23 make it seem likely. He was the first Hornets player in history to average two 3-pointers and a block per game in a season, per ESPN Stats & Information. In March, he gave an impressive 43-point performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Hornets fans are more than likely pleased with the outcome that Washington is back for the long run, here at the precipice of a new season when long-dashed playoff dreams return at an all-time high. Now, the Hornets have Washington back at a great value, and his presence keeps a key player from past seasons around Lamelo Ball.
Even if Washington's overall numbers decrease due to Bridges' return and the Hornets' increased depth, his presence as an agile rotation player and strong starter if needed boosts the team. It's hard to see his re-signing to Charlotte, albeit protracted, as anything but good for the team.
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