Summary

During the Kemba Walker years in Charlotte, the Hornets were often reliant on Zeller, as their disappointing seasons often coincided with Zeller being unhealthy. However, that might have been more about the backup options rather than the value Zeller provided.

Zeller generally makes the right plays on both ends. He's skilled enough to finish in pick-and-roll on offense. On defense, he isn't a great rim protector but has pretty good help instincts and overall awareness to be in the right spot. He's not the most laterally quick big, but he's not someone that is automatically toast if he has to switch onto a perimeter player.

While he's started to shoot some 3s, he's hitting at a really low rate and teams generally do not respect him out there. When the defense sags off and Zeller tries to use that space to drive, the results have been mixed at best. Zeller isn't exactly a playmaker, and his touch on floaters is below-average.

Zeller is probably best suited as a backup center, but could start for some teams that are really weak at that position. Even in situations where he would be the starter, I don't think Zeller is someone that should be closing games.

Cap Considerations

Zeller will be an unrestricted free agent with full Bird rights. As his cap hold ($23.1 million) exceeds the salary he will get in free agency, his cap hold is not really relevant. If the Hornets re-sign Zeller, his cap hold will be replaced by his starting salary, and the Hornets may still have some cap space available depending on his salary and what happens with their other free agents.

If Zeller is brought back by the Hornets on a multi-year contract, they could benefit from frontloading his contract, as it could give them additional flexibility in the future.

Other teams will have multiple ways to sign Zeller as even teams without cap space could possibly use any of the Non-Taxpayer, Taxpayer, or possibly even the Room Mid-Level Exceptions to sign him.

Potential Teams: Raptors, Hornets, Lakers, Timberwolves, Trailblazers

Predicted Contract: 2-year, $11 million with the Raptors