Charlotte Hornets: Jalen McDaniels, Kobi Simmons claim final roster spots

The Charlotte Hornets have signed Jalen McDaniels and Kobi Simmons, finalizing their roster as we enter the 2019-20 regular season.

The 2019-20 season is just days away for the Charlotte Hornets, and we now know who will be filling out the final two roster spots for the team. Jalen McDaniels, the teams 52nd overall pick, signed a multi-year contract, giving him a spot on the main roster.

Kobi Simmons, meanwhile, had his contract converted into a Two-Way contract. He and Robert Franks will serve as Two-Way players, spending the majority of the season in the G-League with the Greensboro Swarm.

These moves come with little surprise. The team is committed to developing McDaniels. He may have been a late arrival to training camp, but he offers upside down the road. He’ll also likely spend a lot of time in the G-League, giving him a chance to play meaningful minutes.

It also comes after the team had signed Caleb Martin to a three-year deal. Martin, like both McDaniels and Simmons, earned a roster spot thanks to an impressive outing in training camp and preseason.

Simmons was a strong performer in training camp for the Hornets. He’s only 22 years old and still has upside. He ended preseason with a 12 point, five rebound and three assist outing against Detroit.

He earned that Two-Way contract. He’ll be a very fun player to watch for the Swarm this season thanks to his ability to score and play at a fast pace.

Now, obviously, these two signings won’t have a major impact on the immediate future. If they continue to develop and get better, though, they could be nice pieces in the future.

McDaniels has the potential to play in the league, but just needs to sharpen up his overall skills. Simmons needs to continue learning how to be a full-time point guard. Even if they don’t log major NBA minutes, you can bet that the coaching staff will work diligently with the both of them.

Last season at San Diego State, McDaniels had averages of 15.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 31.0 minutes. Kobi Simmons only played one game with Cleveland last season, but averaged 6.1 points and 2.1 assists with Memphis in the previous season.

McDaniels and Simmons are two prospects with bright futures. It will be interesting to see what the Charlotte Hornets can do with them during the 2019-20 season. Remember, player development is crucial, up-and-down the roster.