Charlotte Hornets Camp Update: Thomas Welsh waived, Jalen McDaniels signed

Now well into training camp, the Charlotte Hornets are making moves again. This time, they are waiving Thomas Welsh and adding second rounder Jalen McDaniels.

After the 2019 NBA Draft and Summer League, many Charlotte Hornets fans were left wondering what’s going to happen with Jalen McDaniels, Charlotte’s 52nd overall pick.

He’s finally made his way to the Charlotte Hornets’ training camp, as the team announced they have waived center Thomas Welsh to make room for McDaniels. If he clears waivers, Welsh will join the Greensboro Swarm of the G-League for the 2019-20 season.

McDaniels will now fight for a roster spot with the Charlotte Hornets. With 13 guaranteed contracts on the books, their is room for two more players heading into the regular season. Caleb Martin, Joe Chealey and Josh Perkins join McDaniels in the battle for a spot on an NBA roster.

To this point, Martin looks like he is deserving of one of the spots. McDaniels may be a major project, but it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see him earn one of the spots as well. With this being a rebuilding season for Charlotte, player development is the top priority, which bodes well for a guy like McDaniels.

Being that McDaniels is a forward and his competition are all guards could bode well for his chances of making the squad. You can never have too many wings in today’s NBA, right?

During Summer League, McDaniels had some good moments. He ended up averaging just 3.6 points and 1.4 rebounds, but he was able to showcase the length and athletic ability that made him an intriguing prospect during the pre-draft period.

He spent two seasons at San Diego State, averaging 13.2 points and 7.9 rebounds for the Aztecs. His draft stock trended downward after some legal trouble, but the upside he possesses is apparent.

McDaniels can really cover a lot of ground on both sides of the ball. He’s not an NBA ready shooter, but he’s active around the basket and has eye popping size and length. He’ll also need to get a lot stronger in order to prepare for the next level.

He’s a low risk option for the Hornets. If he works out, great! If not, it’s not the end of the world, considering he was the 52nd pick. The raw talent is there and it makes him worth a shot. Remember, he’s still only 21 years old.

In the end, I like McDaniels’ upside and hope he gets a spot on the Charlotte Hornets final roster. He’s getting a late start compared to others in training camp, so he’ll have to prove himself right out of the gate.