The Charlotte Hornets have announced that the team has transferred two-way player Joe Chealey to Charlotte from the Greensboro Swarm.
It’s always rewarding to see hard work pay off, and that is the case here for Charlotte Hornets two-way player Joe Chealey.
Chealey, who has been with the Greensboro Swarm for the whole season, is being transferred to the Charlotte Hornets. He’s on a two-way contract, so he can spend up to 45 days with the Hornets, but since he has been with the big club so little, the team should not be worried about the time left on his contract.
The undrafted rookie from the College of Charleston has been playing really well in the G-League, putting up averages of 16.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 30.7 minutes per contest. He’s been a well-rounded player for the Swarm, and I’ve enjoyed watching his growth this season.
OFFICIAL: @hornets have transferred two-way player Joe Chealey to Charlotte from the @greensboroswarm, the team's @nbagleague affiliate. #Hornets30
— Charlotte Hornets PR (@HornetsPR) January 27, 2019
Joe Chealey signed with the Hornets back on July 27th. He was with the team for training camp, and on October 13th, the team exercised the two-way player conversion option on his contract. He earned a roster spot over players like Jaylen Barford and Zach Smith, who are both currently with the Greensboro Swarm.
Charlotte’s other two-way player, J.P. Macura, was transferred to the Hornets earlier in the season due to injuries hurting the big club. Macura is averaging 15.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists on the season with the Swarm.
Both Chealey and Macura have been great additions for the Swarm, and they both may have a long-term future with the Hornets, as long as they keep developing the way Charlotte wants them to.
Macura may get more buzz because he was a popular player in college, and his scrappy play style has earned the respect of fans surrounding the sport, but Chealey has arguably been the better player for the Swarm this season.
That’s not a knock of Macura, he’s played very well too. However, Chealey has been posting some big all-around numbers, and his size at the point guard spot is intriguing.
It would be nice to get a look at Chealey in an NBA game, but with the Hornets healthy at the moment, that may not happen. Still, it’s nice to see the team rewarding Chealey thanks to his strong play for the Swarm this season.
If Chealey remains with the team through tomorrow night, his first opportunity at making his NBA debut will be against the New York Knicks tomorrow. Tip off will be at 7:00 PM ET. I’m rooting for Chealey and hope he gets a shot at some NBA minutes sooner rather than later.