Devonte Graham’s ascension, Malik Monk’s reinvention: What the Hornets have been so far
When Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego said in September he would lean to youth in playing-time decisions, without just freezing out the veterans, it was the right call.
But it was going to be tough to execute: Walking that line between building for the future and respecting veterans’ value would be perilous. Borrego has pulled this off without looking arbitrary or unfair.
The Hornets have played a quarter of their 82-game schedule, sitting at 8-13. Ten things we know from a quarter-season sample:
Graham no mirage
Anyone talented enough to be drafted by the NBA can have a five-game stint when they look big-time. This (averages of 18 points and 7.5 assists) is beyond that for second-year point guard Devonte Graham. He has had only two games this season when he had fewer than 10 points and only three when he had fewer than five assists.
His jump in 3-point percentage from 28 percent as a rookie to 40 percent this season radically changes how teams must guard him, opening driving and passing lanes. The only real concern is turnovers at 4.8 per 100 possessions.
Rozier adaptive
Terry Rozier could feel threatened by Graham’s ascension, considering the Hornets are paying him $57 million over three seasons on the premise he would be Kemba Walker’s replacement. But Rozier is fine with playing off the ball when paired with Graham. That is the Hornets’ best backcourt this season, and I thought it took Borrego longer than it should have to install them as starters together.
The best use of 6-foot-1 Rozier is as a combo guard. That might make them small in the backcourt, but it plays to Rozier’s strengths as a defender and scorer.
Balancing act
Friday’s announcement that second-round pick Cody Martin has been assigned to the G-League Greensboro Swarm illustrates Borrego’s approach: If a young player has a role, keep him in Charlotte. If that role recedes, get him heavy minutes in Greensboro. Martin’s minutes had dropped dramatically (27 total over seven games, after playing 21 and 26 minutes in the two games prior to that.)
Three young guys — Graham, Miles Bridges and rookie P.J. Washington — are starting. A fourth, Dwayne Bacon, started the first 10 games until his performance and a sore right knee moved him out of the lineup. Borrego is doing what he said he would: Prioritizing development of young players without blowing off how veterans under contract can contribute.
The vets
Nic Batum, Marvin Williams and Bismack Biyombo are all playing off the bench, but also playing significant minutes. Borrego prepared them for what to expect this season; they don’t feel abandoned, and are making the best of the situation. (The vet who hardly plays at all is Michael Kidd-Gilchrist; it would take a lot of injuries to change that, it appears.)
Biyombo has played well, particularly in that fill-in start Wednesday (19 points, nine rebounds and two blocks). It wouldn’t be unfathomable to see the Hornets re-signing Biyombo (for far less than the $17 million he makes this season) to be a backup.
Trade value
The question I get asked most is if any Hornets veterans have significant trade value. I always thought Williams would draw some interest from other teams. I’d think Biyombo would be more on other teams’ radar now.
However, the major impediment to any such deal would be what the Hornets would have to take back, in terms of salary beyond this season, to deal an expensive veteran. Picking up a second-round pick, but having to carry significant salary beyond this season, doesn’t sound like a good option.
Monk reinvention
One of the most promising developments is how Malik Monk has reinvented his offensive approach in his third season. He’s shooting 46 percent from the field, despite making just 30 percent of his 3s, because he is attacking the rim so relentlessly. He’s taking 27 percent of his shots within three feet of the rim, which is forcing teams to send him to the foul line.
He’s going from a maddeningly inefficient player to an efficient one, realizing how to use all those tools. General manager Mitch Kupchak has called Monk this team’s most athletic player. He’s finally figuring out how to employ that.
Possessions
Only twice in their first 19 games did the Hornets avoid trailing by 10 or more points. That speaks to a team that has a rebound deficit and is prone to turnovers: they almost never will have more possessions than their opponents.
That means any victory will come down to the last minute, and they can lose in exasperating fashion, as in the last eight seconds of the fall to the Chicago Bulls.
Bacon’s struggles
Bacon is the only young guy who hasn’t shown development in this swing to youth. A statistic that stings: He takes a lot of two-point shots (nearly seven per game), but is shooting only 36 percent from there and averaging a free throw for every 10 1/2 minutes played. That’s inefficient.
Martin going to the Swarm could open minutes for Bacon; Borrego can’t really play Batum, Bacon and Martin. Lately, Bacon has been outside the rotation.
Bridges’ burden
Bridges has been asked to guard the opposing team’s top offensive option most games this season. That’s meant dealing with the likes of LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler. I asked Bridges recently how he’s rationing his energy between defense and offense, and he says he really doesn’t view it that way; he just goes with it.
Batum’s return from injury is beneficial as far as giving Borrego another option to guard multiple positions. But Bridges’ role is the most challenging among Hornets this season.
Washington is ...
A better shooter than the Hornets anticipated, based on his time at Kentucky. He will play some small-ball center, but his primary position will always be power forward. That’s where this will eventually get complicated, since Bridges’ optimum position is also power forward.
Kupchak will have to decide whether Washington and Bridges are complementary or redundant. But that’s in the future. Right now, develop both, whether as core pieces or trade assets.
This story was originally published December 1, 2019 at 6:00 AM.
