Charlotte Hornets sign Johnny O’Bryant for remainder of season

The Charlotte Hornets will sign Johnny O’Bryant for the remainder of the 2016-17 season, according to ESPN’s Chris Haynes.

O’Bryant was a solid pickup, as he bolstered a frontcourt dealing with a plethora of injuries. He appeared in four games for the Hornets over those two 10-day deals, averaging 4.5 points and two rebounds in 8.5 minutes per game.

The 24-year-old big man has shown flashes of a perimeter game, too, but sprained his ankle on Mar. 8. He was just starting to get consistent minutes and looked good in them.

It is unlikely this signing foreshadows a future deal with the Hornets, however. Their frontcourt is stacked — Cody Zeller, Frank Kaminsky, Miles Plumlee, and Christian Wood all warrant playing time — and there’s simply too much money tied up elsewhere to make signing O’Bryant a priority at this point.

In other words, the Hornets like O’Bryant and see him as insurance in case the team gets hit with another wave of injuries.

Congrats on the new deal, Johnny. You’ve earned it!