LAS VEGAS _ Does Tony Parker have enough left at 36 to give the Charlotte Hornets what they need off the bench at point guard?
On the same day the Hornets traded center Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets, the Hornets came to terms with another former All-Star in Parker. He has spent all 17 of his NBA seasons in a championship setting with the San Antonio Spurs.
Now Parker and rookie Devonte Graham will back up two-time All-Star Kemba Walker in Charlotte, as the Hornets try to balance getting younger with still looking to qualify for the Eastern Conference playoffs next season.
An NBA source confirmed Parker's commitment to sign in Charlotte after another Frenchman, Hornets guard Nic Batum, said as much on Twitter. Batum and Parker are close from many summers playing on the French National Team. Parker also has a pre-existing relationship with new Hornets coach James Borrego, who served two stints as a Spurs assistant.
Parker will reportedly sign a two-year, $10 million contract, a portion of the Hornets' midlevel exception ($8.6 million). Parker's actual signing might not come until next week.
The Hornets signed Graham Thursday after Howard's trade became official. He started in the opening game of the Hornets' summer-league schedule in Las Vegas against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Hornets and Denver Nuggets both expressed interest in Parker and the Spurs were interested in retaining him. Parker spoke to ESPN's Marc Spears about how emotional it was to tell the Spurs he was leaving.
"Tough decision. Tough three days," Parker told Spears. "Tough communicating it all to Pop (Gregg Popovich, the only coach in Parker's NBA career) and (Spurs general manager R.C. Buford.) I will always love San Antonio. I will always be a Spur.
"But I'm excited to play for my idol, M.J. (Hornets owner Michael Jordan), coach J.B. and with my little brother, Nicolas Batum."
Batum effectively broke the news of Parker's decision to join him in Charlotte on Twitter.
Popovich issued a statement on Parker's departure that read in part, "It's difficult to put into words how important Tony Parker has been to the Spurs franchise over the past two decades .... T.P. has impressed and inspired us day-after-day, game-after-game, season-after-season with his passion, dedication and desire."
Parker was a major figure along with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili in the Spurs winning their last four NBA championships. However, Parker was replaced as a starter this season by Dejounte Murray. Parker finished last season with career lows in points (7.7), assists (3.5) and minutes (19.5). That playing time was far below any previous season.
Parker has said his goal is to play 20 seasons in the NBA. He ruptured his left quadriceps tendon in May of 2017 during the playoffs.
Walker has always been a heavy-minutes player and Graham is considered a strong developmental candidate. How Parker fills the minutes between those two will define the success of new general manager Mitch Kupchak's first significant player acquisition.
