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Charlotte Hornets: Aaron Harrison Needs to Prove Himself in the D-League This Season

By Jerry Stephens

Oct 4, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Aaron Harrison (9) is pressured by Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Aaron Harrison (9) is pressured by Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the Greensboro Swarm set to begin their inaugural season this year, Charlotte Hornets’ guard, Aaron Harrison, will need to prove himself in the D-League.

After a forgettable first season in the NBA and with the Charlotte Hornets, Aaron Harrison will get the chance to prove himself this year. With the Greensboro Swarm set to begin play in the D-Legaue this season, Harrison should spend most of the year in the Developmental League. This will give him ample playing time and Charlotte will get a good look at the promising prospect.

Aaron originally went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft after two seasons at the University of Kentucky. He had a promising career but things have stagnated a bit since coming into the league. Luckily for Harrison and the Hornets, he played well for Charlotte in the Orlando Pro Summer League and signed a contract with the team.

The 21-year old guard will be entering a contract season this year and will have to prove himself if he wants to stay in the Queen City. Aaron may not have gotten a lot of playing time in 2015 but he should get plenty of game time in the D-League this year.

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Promising Start With the Hornets

When Harrison played for Charlotte’s summer league team in 2015, he was one of their best players. He averaged 13.4 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game, and 3.4 assists per game. He showcased great potential and the Hornets quickly scooped him up off of the free agent market before another team made a move.

Aaron was a raw prospect but his promise gave the team hope going forward. After the strong start with the Hornets, he began to fade as the NBA regular season began due to his limited playing time. He spent some time in the D-League with other teams but without consistent minutes, Harrison struggled to find his groove.

Poor Showing in Summer League

Even after his limited playing time with Charlotte in the 2015-16 season, all eyes were on the 6’6 guard heading into the 2016 Orlando Pro Summer League. Many Hornets’ experts and fans expected him to be one of the best players this summer and prove that he deserved a guaranteed spot on the team. Instead, he struggled mightily and gave the team more questions than answers going forward.

Although Harrison averaged 14.2 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, and 3.5 assists per game, he shot a very disappointing 30.8% from the field and 19% from the three-point line. He also committed 4.25 turnovers per game. The poor showing this summer leaves Aaron in a worse position entering the 2016-17 season than he was in last year.

D-League opportunity

With the Hornets now having a D-League affiliate, Harrison gets the opportunity in Charlotte that he has waited for. With the strong roster that the team has, it is probable that he spends most, if not all, of the season with the Greensboro Swarm. Aaron should start, get plenty of playing time, and be able to display his full repertoire this season.

With the talented guards on Charlotte’s roster, this is Harrison’s only way to prove himself this season. He will need to play outstanding and put up some great numbers in the D-League if he wants to have a future in the NBA. It is tough to put that kind of pressure on a young guard but the Hornets have faith in Aaron but he will need to prove himself.

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It remains to be seen if he can prove himself in the NBA Developmental League but he will get his moment. It will be interesting to see how Aaron plays this summer and if he stands out or fades away. This is a make or break season for his career and he will have the shot to do something special for the Charlotte Hornets’ D-League team.

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