(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
For years, the Charlotte Hornets have had a bit of a culture problem.
They’ve had some talented young players, but, at times, it seemed as if basketball wasn’t at the top of their priority list.
That’s why new coach Charles Lee knows the first step to turning the team around will be to build and develop a strong culture.
With that in mind, the Hornets have decided to sign veteran big man Taj Gibson.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the 39-year-old has joined the team on a one-year deal worth $3.3 million.
Free agent center Taj Gibson has agreed on a one-year, $3.3 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets, Mark Bartelstein of @Prioritysports tells ESPN. GM Jeff Peterson and coach Charles Lee bring on Gibson, 39, to mentor in a young locker room. pic.twitter.com/pT1P2tnMEY
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 13, 2024
That might be great news for the Hornets, but not so much for Tom Thibodeau and the New York Knicks, as Gibson is usually No. 1 on his speed dial when he needs a big man.
The veteran forward/center has been in the league since 2009.
He’s played for the Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards, and Detroit Pistons, and he’ll provide some priceless veteran mentorship to a roster that’s full of young players.
He can also help their big men develop some much-needed defensive grit, being one of the toughest players in the league still.
The NBA has drifted away from veterans, and that might be a big mistake.
Rarely does anybody see a Udonis Haslem type of player who’s there to teach the young players the ropes of the game, and with teams looking to get 19-year-olds to take the court right away, Gibson and others have become a near-extinct breed in the league.
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