An offseason of roster turnover looms for the Hornets

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Tre Mann has turned his trade from Oklahoma City to the Charlotte Hornets into an opportunity to show his worth as a starting guard since the All-Star break.

With one game remaining for this version of the Charlotte Hornets, we’re near the end of another season of injury-riddled basketball.

While Charlotte’s mid-season additions provided some optimism for the future, this team just couldn’t go without its point guard LaMelo Ball, and top center Mark Williams.

With 20 wins, and only 22 games with the face of the franchise on the court, the Hornets are slotted for another top-five pick in the 2024 draft and has a chance to sneak into the top three. It’s clear that new owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin prioritized building around Ball and three-time Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month, Brandon Miller – who would have a great chance at securing Rookie of the Year if the French phenom Victor Wembanyama wasn’t in the class.

And even with Charlotte’s head coaching search getting an early start with Steve Clifford stepping down at season’s end, the Hornets still must answer the main question: how do they build around the young core? Trading for young assets and future draft capital at the deadline was a start, and Charlotte added another Oklahoma City exit in Aleksej Pokusevski through waivers in late February.

The extended run with a thin rotation has helped and hurt some of the current roster’s chances of returning next season. It’s time to evaluate the second part of the mid-season additions and give our take on who should stay – and who should go.

Tre Mann

Mann has been in the starting lineup since his first night as a Hornet, resurrecting the early stages of his career in purple and teal.

While a blazing hot start from beyond the arc has faded, Mann has continued to prove himself as a playmaker in Charlotte’s offense – all while snatching ankles and keeping the home crowd alive with pin-point accurate alley-oop passes.

After shooting 41.2% from beyond the arc in his first month in Charlotte, Mann returned closer to his career average at 32.6% in March. His most consistent stretch of games came just over a month into his tenure under Steve Clifford, scoring in double figures in five consecutive games at 14.4 points, 4.4 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and two steals per game.

Whether it’s spelling Ball as more of a combo guard next season, or slotting alongside the 6-foot-7 point Ball as a smaller shooting guard, Mann has solidified his spot in the Hornets rotation.

With one year left on his contract, warranting $4.9 million in 2024-25, Mann will become a restricted free agent that summer. This means that Charlotte has nearly a year and a half, on a relatively inexpensive deal, to see his progression and plan for the future. Playing a similar role as two-way rookie Nick Smith Jr., an extra year of progression for each could decide who is extended in a year’s time.

But one thing is for sure – Mann isn’t afraid to take the big shot. And while he won’t always be relied on for clutch buckets with Ball, Miller, and Miles Bridges on the floor, knowing that Mann doesn’t lack the confidence will play a key role in his progression. That can’t be said for everyone.

Aleksej Pokusevski

Pokusevski, known as “Poku,” by the fan base, has gotten a chance to find himself again on the basketball court with the Hornets. After being drafted 17th overall by Oklahoma City in 2020, Pokusevski’s production dwindled over the past three seasons, going from 61 games played, to 35, and then just 10 appearances with the Thunder this year before being waived in February.

Charlotte took a flyer on the 7-foot Serbian, pairing him with fellow Serbian Vasilije Micic in the Hornets’ rotation. Although he’s shown flashes of potential, Pokusevski is averaging just 6.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game on 40.3%/28%/75% shooting splits in over 19 minutes per appearance since joining the Hornets.

The extended run has been good for Poku’s confidence, and rejoining former Thunder teammates Mann and Micic helped the fourth-year player transition to Clifford’s system. Injuries plagued the end of Pokusevski’s Oklahoma City tenure, suffering a fracture in his right arm and a lingering sprained ankle ahead of the Thunder’s 2023-24 training camp. The result? Ten games at six minutes and  1.2 points per contest.

There are concerns about Pokusevski’s work ethic. His current cap hit is $565,000 for 2023-24, and if he’s not waived before July 8, his salary will jump to over $2.2 million. Although he’s shown flashes, Pokusevski is a two-way contract-caliber player who would benefit from an extended run in the G-League.

Despite his 7-foot, 210-pound frame, Pokusevski is routinely taken off the dribble by smaller offensive players and must shoot better from beyond the arc to solidify a consistent spot in an NBA rotation.
Defense hasn’t been Pokusevski’s strong suit, but that’s where Grant Williams comes in.

Grant Williams

After a failed experiment in Dallas, Williams has solidified his spot in Charlotte’s rotation, and returning home has been a huge plus for the forward.

There’s a lot to like about Williams, and although it’s been less than 40 games that he’s been in purple and teal, it seems like the two parties have an interest in being joined for years to come.

“It’s kind of funny that it happened this way,” Williams said after the trade. “It allows you to be a part of something that can be built from the ground up. Under new ownership, a new team, a bunch of guys who are young and talented, you have a chance to build something special here in the city.”

After serving as a rotational three-and-D (defense) player in Boston and Dallas, Williams has found a new role in Charlotte – locker room leader and playmaker.

Williams, a 6-foot-6 forward, has seen multiple spot-starts at center for Clifford – stepping in for the injured Mark  Williams and Nick Richards at center. Grant Williams’ ability to defend much taller offensive players has given Charlotte a different approach to the small ball lineups that span the league today. Williams must continue to improve his shooting from beyond the arc, but his playmaking has taken the next step.

“I’ve seen just his playmaking,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said of his former player. “He’s really good against the switch, creates some indecision for you on whether you should switch or not switch with his ability to go fake and his screen angles.”

Although not on the floor with a star playmaker like Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving in Ball’s absence, Clifford sees the different role as a positive.

“It’s a little different with our team. He’s not out there with Tatum and Brown or he’s not out there with Don?i? and Kyrie,” Clifford said. “So, it’s different. He’s very verbal and very upbeat. He’s a terrific competitor, which to me is the No. 1 thing you look for.

“You never have to worry about his effort. He’s always on top of the game plan. He plays a very physical, intelligent game. With us, because it’s a different role than he’s had in Boston or in Dallas, you’re getting to see he has a playmaking aspect of his game that just, again, because of what we need him to do, he gets a chance to do well.”

After signing a four-year, $53.3 million contract with Dallas last summer, Williams now has three years and just over $40 million remaining on his contract and should be a staple for years to come in the Hornets rotation.

Being able to play three positions and defend all five, Williams provides an X-factor type of player Charlotte has needed – and a post-passer to help facilitate the offense.
While Charlotte’s roster will likely be overhauled throughout the rebuild, Williams has the skillset and mentality to be a key piece for the Hornets’ future.

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