Charlotte Hornets add shooting in two-way player Robert Franks

The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to a two-way contract with undrafted free agent Robert Franks, who was a sharpshooter at Washington State.

The NBA Draft may have two rounds and sixty draft picks, but that doesn’t stop the frenzy of prospects agreeing to a deal with their first professional team after the draft. Many like to call this the “third round” of the draft, and the Charlotte Hornets are one team that has been active, as they have agreed to a two-way contract with Robert Franks.

Franks did not get picked in last night’s draft after a great four-year career at Washington State. He had hoped to hear his named called in the second round, but agreeing to a deal with Charlotte may numb some of the pain of not being drafted.

As a senior last season, Franks averaged 21.6 points and 7.2 rebounds. He shot 40 percent from the three-point line while taking seven three’s per game. He’s a stretch four, and simply knows how to put the ball in the basket. He can really shoot it.

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That’s what his role in the NBA will likely be — a stretch four. He brings a lot of shooting to the front court, just like the Hornets’ lottery pick, P.J. Washington.

Now that Franks is on a two-way contract, he will be able to spend up to 45 days with the Hornets during the 2019-20 season. He’ll spend the rest of the time in the G-League with the Greensboro Swarm, Charlotte’s G-League affiliate. It’s a great opportunity for him to develop his game as a rookie.

Last season, the Charlotte Hornets signed J.P. Macura and Joe Chealey to two-way contracts. They both improved as the season went on, but their future with the team at this point is unknown. Franks is a good first two-way guy, so we’ll see who the other player will be at a later date.

It should be noted that Franks had a pre-draft workout with the Hornets earlier this month. He must have made an impression on the front office during that workout. He may not have been drafted, but he was clearly wanted by Mitch Kupchak and this Hornets team.

One player apart of that pre-draft workout was Justin Wright-Foreman, who was drafted by the Utah Jazz 53rd overall last night.

These may not be the sexiest signings in the world, but two-way contracts are so beneficial for prospects and their development. The Charlotte Hornets got a good talent in Robert Franks with their first two-way spot, and I look forward to watching him develop during the 2019-20 season with both the Hornets and the Swarm.