Boston got contributions from their bench as the reserves outscored Charlotte’s bench 53-14 in a 112-101 Celtics win.ĭespite the triumph, the Celtics would suffer a devastating blow when Lewis missed the rest of the series with a heart ailment. Lewis would return briefly, but sit out the rest of the game. Boston suffered a scare in Game One, when All-Star Reggie Lewis collapsed midway through the first quarter. Overall, Newman appeared in 64 games (27 starts) and compiled 11.9 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.8 APG and 0.7 SPG in 23.0 MPG.Ĭharlotte went on to the playoffs where they matched up with the Boston Celtics in the first round. They were also rumored to be in talks to negotiate a contract extension with Newman after the trade deadline. The Hornets had Newman on the trade block, looking for a second round pick, but couldn’t find a deal for the forward. On occasion, Newman did not finish some games. He was relegated to the bench, replaced by defensive stalwart David Wingate in the starting lineup. Newman’s role was reduced at times during the ‘92-‘93 season. The Hornets finished fifth in the East with a 44-38 mark. Stuck at 35-35 after 70 games, Charlotte went 9-3 in their final 12 games to cement the first playoff appearance in franchise history. With key veterans like Newman, Muggsy Bogues, Kenny Gattison and Dell Curry, the Hornets started to build a team ready to compete for the playoffs. Mourning lived up to the hype and the young core of Mourning, Johnson and Gill formed an intriguing trio for Charlotte. Mourning’s contract negotiations with Charlotte were well drawn out. To make the incoming rookie’s six-year contract fit under the salary cap, Newman was one of a few Hornets to defer or alter their contracts. Mourning’s reputation as a ready-to-go defender and scorer at the center position shored up a weakness for Charlotte. After the Orlando Magic took LSU center Shaquille O’Neal with the first pick, Charlotte went big as well, drafting Georgetown center Alonzo Mourning second overall. The Hornets didn’t win the lottery in 1992, but they came close, ending up with the second overall pick. Though the team’s play improved with a 23-27 record through the final 50 games, Charlotte still finished in the lottery with a 31-51 mark. In 55 games, he compiled 15.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.7 APG and 1.3 SPG in 30.0 MPG.Įven with the addition of Johnson, the Hornets had a rough 8-24 start that they could never recover from. With Johnson in the fold, Newman still had a substantial role in Charlotte’s offense. Newman missed time with tendinitis in his right knee and a broken index finger in his right hand. A star at UNLV, Johnson was expected to provide the Hornets with a ready to play star with unreal athleticism.Ĭharlotte head coach Gene Littles went to the front office and vice president Allan Bristow became head coach in an interesting realignment of positions in the Hornets organization. The Hornets used the top selection on college phenom Larry Johnson. Charlotte would gain some added luck, when the team won the 1991 draft lottery despite having the fifth-best odds. The team would continue to struggle, going 26-56 which was the fourth-worst record in the association during the 1990-91 campaign.ĭespite the disappointing finish, the Hornets had hope in youthful players like Rex Chapman and Kendall Gill. Charlotte would drop their next 11 games and fall to 8-18. In the third season in team history, the Hornets got off to a halfway decent start with an 8-7 record. He was productive, putting up a career-high 16.9 PPG along with 3.1 RPG, 2.3 APG and 1.2 SPG in 81 games and 30.6 MPG in his first season with Charlotte.Ĭharlotte was trying to dig itself out of the common struggles of an expansion franchise. Newman became a permanent fixture as the small forward in Charlotte’s starting lineup, assuming the role from former All-Star Kelly Tripucka. His original team, the New York Knicks, decided not to match the offer sheet. Johnny Newman became a Charlotte Hornet when he signed an offer sheet worth $5 million over four years in the 1990 offseason. On December 10th, 1993, the Charlotte Hornets traded forward-guard Johnny Newman to the New Jersey Nets for guard Rumeal Robinson. Charlotte Hornets Trade Johnny Newman to New Jersey Nets for Rumeal Robinson
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