Prior to the 2026-27 NBA season, HoopsHype revealed a list ranking the 30 most overpaid players in NBA history. While their list included four former Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats, only two of the four signed significant contracts with the franchise.
18. Juwan Howard
A current NBA assistant coach, Juwan Howard didn't join the Bobcats until his age 35 season, during the 2008-09 campaign. The former Michigan standout signed with Charlotte after being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks and spent the final 39 games with the Bobcats. In those appearances, Howard averaged 4.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.2 steals. Howard's big payday was a seven-year $105 million deal with Washington.
15. Nic Batum
Following a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, Nic Batum played one season with
the Hornets before signing a massive five-year $120 million contract with Charlotte. Although he helped propel the Hornets to the postseason before signing the extension, the Frenchman never lived up to the deal. In the four seasons following the agreement, Batum averaged 11.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists and one steal. After averaging 3.6 points in 22 games during the 2019-2020 season, the Hornets decided to waive Batum before the final year of his contract.
14. Tyson Chandler
Similar to Howard, Chandler only played one season with the Bobcats. The former Defensive Player of the Year Award winner found his way to the Bobcats after they sent Emeka Okafor to the New Orleans Hornets. In his lone season with Charlotte, Chandler averaged 6.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. He was later traded from the Bobcats to the Dallas Mavericks. Throughout his career, Chandler signed multiple deals worth $50 million or more.
5. Gordon Hayward
The aforementioned Batum was waived and stretched ahead of the 2020-2021 season so that the Hornets could land Gordon Hayward in a massive sign-and-trade deal with the Boston Celtics. Entering his age-30 season, with previous injury history, Charlotte took a risk, signing the former Butler swingman to a four-year $120 million deal. While Hayward was solid for the Hornets, averaging 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, four assists and one steal, he didn't return to All-Star form from his time in Utah. Hayward was traded to the Thunder during the final year of his contract and would retire soon after.
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This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: 4 former Charlotte players listed among most overpaid in NBA history
