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Could Terry Rozier be the Charlotte Hornets’ Lou Williams?

By Elijah Edwards

MIAMI, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 25: Terry Rozier #3 of the Charlotte Hornets drives to the basket against the Miami Heat in the first half at American Airlines Arena on November 25, 2019 in Miami, Florida. 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. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 25: Terry Rozier #3 of the Charlotte Hornets drives to the basket against the Miami Heat in the first half at American Airlines Arena on November 25, 2019 in Miami, Florida. 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. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Many questions surround the Charlotte Hornets going into yet another season without a playoff appearance. Where Terry Rozier fits within the overall lineup is a topic on which a few people have pondered.

The Charlotte Hornets have an interesting conundrum regarding their backcourt. They have two very talented, very athletic guards who can both see the floor well enough to guide an offense while at the same time, provide scoring in bunches, should the need arise.

The problem is that they’re both rather small, at least by NBA standards, with Terry Rozier and Devonte’ Graham both being 6’1″ and around 175 pounds each. In the modern NBA, this isn’t that much of a concern, but it does present some problems when the two are playing together, which was the case most of the time during the season.

Some experts, as well as fans, have wondered: Should Terry come off the bench as the backup point guard, while another taller, longer guard plays at the two to start the game? It’s an interesting question and one that I’m sure Head Coach James Borrego has asked himself quite a few times.

A scenario such as that one isn’t without its merits. Just look at multiple Sixth Man of the Year winner, Lou Williams. He’s won the award for the last two years and has earned that honor three times total. He may even end up winning it a fourth time when this season finally wraps up.

The NBA has seen the rise of the sixth man becoming an essential component in teams’ rotations. Terry Rozier could fill that role nicely for the Charlotte Hornets.

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Physically, he and Rozier are very similar, with Williams also being 6’1″ and also primarily playing the shooting guard position, albeit off the bench, of course. Williams has thrived in this role, oftentimes being the leading scorer for the particular team he’s on at the time.

He’s averaged just over 20 points and 5 dimes per game the last three years for the Los Angeles Clippers, all while making a respectable 42% of his shots from the field and 36% from downtown. Not to mention that this partly why he’s been able to play for so long, as the soon-to-be 34-year old has been in the league since 2005.

Should the Hornets adopt this strategy, not only would it potentially help Rozier, letting him play his natural point guard position more often, it would most certainly bolster a second unit that can be a little underwhelming at times.

Terry, who averaged 18 points on 42% shooting, was often the team’s leading scorer and helped provide a much-needed boost if and when Devonte’ Graham was off or if the two were the only ones hitting shots on any given night.

In terms of production, Charlotte’s bench unit plays 18 minutes per contest, while putting up just 34 points a game, good enough for 22nd highest in the league. In contrast, the Clippers put up the highest bench production in the NBA, thanks in large part, to Lou Williams. Almost 52 points per contest can be attributed to the Clippers’ bench, which is pretty staggering.

Related Story. Terry Rozier wants to get the Charlotte Hornets to the playoffs. light

Rozier filling in as the sixth man would also help the bench’s rather woeful shooting percentage, at least from outside, as his three-point proficiency would provide a nice shot in the arm for a unit that shoots just 32% from behind the arc, tied for the 6th lowest percentage in the NBA.

So, who would start in his place? While the first answer from most people would be Malik Monk, consistency has been a major issue for him ever since he entered the league. Perhaps him getting the starting nod would give him a boost in confidence that could help get him going.

If not him, then Caleb Martin would be the next choice and it’s the more interesting one if I’m giving my opinion. He’s got the size at 6’5,” and is a decent two-way player, but the only knock on him is that we just haven’t seen enough of his game at the true NBA level.

Or, there’s always the upcoming draft, in which there are a few options at the starting two for the Charlotte Hornets to consider taking. There are plenty of ways the team could go with this

In any case, it could be something the coaching staff toys with coming into next season. The main question is if Terry signs off on it. I don’t see him being too adamant against it, but I could be wrong. Some players feel like that would be a demotion, and Terry could be one of them, despite it giving him different opportunities in which to succeed.

Next. Where does the duo of Rozier and Graham rank among the best duos in Charlotte Hornets history?. dark

At the end of the day, it’s all about winning, and if anyone has proven that the sixth man can be just as valuable as anyone else on the roster, it’s Lou Williams. Could the Charlotte Hornets be the next team that utilizes a player in such a manner? That’s always a possibility.

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