Swarm and Sting
Fansided

Charlotte Hornets: Nicolas Batum to move back to small forward next season

By Jerry Stephens

CHARLOTTE, NC - APRIL 1: Nicolas Batum #5 of the Charlotte Hornets handles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 1, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - APRIL 1: Nicolas Batum #5 of the Charlotte Hornets handles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 1, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

With a new head coach in place, it looks like Nicolas Batum will move back to the small forward spot for the Charlotte Hornets in 2018-19.

After playing the last two seasons as a shooting guard, it appears that James Borrego will have Nicolas Batum return to his natural small forward position. Steve Clifford utilized Nic’s size and playmaking ability at the two but recent tweets from Batum indicate that he will be a small forward next season. This means that the Charlotte Hornets‘ starting lineup could see a major shakeup.

Nicolas responded to a fan on Twitter that said Malik Monk was going to replace him in the starting lineup. Batum tweeted: “He’s a SG I’m a SF. Can’t wait to play with him!” The fan then replied “You‘re listed as a SG and played all season long at the 2….” which Nic countered with “« listED »… new coaching staff. SF is my natural position.”

It’s worth noting that the 29-year old played solely as a small forward with the Portland Trail Blazers and for the first eight years of his career. Only recently did he make the move to playing in the backcourt under Steve Clifford. You’d have to think that new Hornets’ head coach James Borrego talked to Batum about playing the three as opposed to the two guard spot.

More from Swarm and Sting

This would mean that Charlotte’s starting lineup could look a lot different to begin the 2018-19 campaign. Last year, the Hornets started Kemba Walker at point guard, Nicolas Batum at shooting guard, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at small forward, Marvin Williams at power forward, and Dwight Howard at center.

With Howard being traded, either Cody Zeller or Willy Hernangomez will start at center next season.

If Nic does start at SF, that would mean that MKG will either move to the starting PF spot or that he will move to the bench. It will also mean that Charlotte will have a new starting SG alongside Kemba Walker. Both Jeremy Lamb and Malik Monk are potential candidates to take over that role.

At this point, it’s unclear who James Borrego plans to start and what his intentions are with the starting lineup but it seems pretty obvious that Batum will no longer play as a shooting guard and will take MKG’s spot as the small forward in the Hornets’ starting five.

Next: Hornets 2018 summer league preview

Measuring in at 6’8 and 200 pounds, Nicolas Batum has good size for a small forward and has proven that he can excel from that position in the past. This move may spark Nic to have a bounce-back season from the down year that he had in 2017-18.

Home/Hornets News