Hornets sign Duke standout Vernon Carey Jr. to four-year deal

Rookie center Vernon Carey Jr., the No. 32 pick in this year’s draft, is signing a four-year contract with the Hornets, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link).

While the exact value of Carey’s deal isn’t yet known, Marks says it will likely have the most guaranteed money of any contract signed by a 2020 second-round pick this fall. Charlotte will use a small portion of its remaining cap room to complete the signing.

In his first and only college season at Duke, Carey averaged 17.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG and 1.6 BPG in 31 games (24.9 MPG). He shot 57.7% from the field and even made 38.1% of his tries from beyond the arc, albeit on just 21 three-point attempts.

Carey is one of four players selected by the Hornets in this year’s draft. LaMelo Ball, the team’s lone first-rounder, will soon sign a rookie scale contract. I’d expect a standard contract for No. 42 pick Nick Richards and a two-way deal for No. 56 selection Grant Riller, but we’ll have to wait to see what Charlotte has in mind.