3 players unlikely to return with the Charlotte Hornets in the 2021-2022 NBA season

#2 Malik Monk

Malik Monk of the Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte Hornets might have to part ways with Malik Monk. He has played just one game as a starter his entire career and a second doesn't seem to be anywhere on the horizon.

Monk never got to reach his full potential with the Hornets as issues beyond his control always derailed his season. A drug suspension in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and an ankle sprain in the final stretch of this season, has led to Monk often rooting for his team from the sidelines instead of lacing up to play.

He is set to enter restricted free agency this offseason and it is unlikely the Hornets will match any offers for him.

Malik Monk on free-agency and where @hornets fit in that: “If they want me here, I’d love to be here. But I want to feel wanted.”

— Rick Bonnell (@rick_bonnell) May 19, 2021

Monk currently plays the backup shooting guard position. The Hornets, however, have LaMelo Ball alongside Terry Rozier as starters, while Devonte' Graham averaged the fourth-highest points on the team. As a result, the Charlotte Hornets paying another $7-10 million for Monk doesn't seem like a worthy investment.

He averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 0.5 steals per game this season.

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#3 Cody Zeller

Cody Zeller of the Charlotte Hornets

Cody Zeller's issue with the Charlotte Hornets is the same as Bismack Biyombo. He didn't turn out to be the player the Hornets hoped he would be when they drafted him 4th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft.

In his eight-year career with the Hornets so far, Cody Zeller has averaged 8.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game. Those are great numbers for a bench role player, but certainly not enough for a starter. In fact, his statistics in the 2020-21 season are lower than last season and he is getting lesser minutes every year.

As mentioned earlier, the Charlotte Hornets are already in the market for a center, with reported ties to Myles Turner and Jarrett Allen. There is no evidence to prove the Hornets will retain Cody Zeller in the offseason. He is getting paid $15 million this year and then will become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. It's safe to say we can expect Zeller to don a new jersey next season.

#Hornets C Cody Zeller: "I don't know how it's gonna go. My first free agency. The city has embraced me, this community. I've loved the city of Charlotte. I don't know where the future will take me, whether it's here or somewhere else. We'll see what happens."

— Will Palaszczuk (@WilliePStyle) May 19, 2021

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