NBA Draft: How Kai Jones will impact the Charlotte Hornets

Kai Jones is raw defensively but has a versatile ability to switch and guard the perimeter which is an ability few big men possess.

Jones’ defensive dimension is the one that worries more. His positioning and footwork weren’t consistent during pick and roll defense and it will require some time for him to understand how to position himself in a defensive scheme in the NBA.

Because of Sims’ presence at Texas, Jones wasn’t asked to be the pick and roll anchor he would probably be while playing center in the NBA. In the few possession without his frontcourt teammate, he struggled to read the organization of the opposing offense and his positioning was poor as well. When dropping hard, he was not able to fully exploit his length defending the rim. This is showcased by his low amount of blocks as he only averaged 0.9 per game last season.

Because of this organization at Texas, he is used to defending players out on the perimeter, which is useful for his defensive versatility. His length and quickness really helped him in containing dribble penetration and in recovering when chasing players from behind. During the 2021 NBA Playoffs, it was on display how crucial it is for bigs to be able to defend in open space as Jones could do. This makes his archetype appealing for the Hornets shortly as he could learn how to be a better pick and roll defender with in-game reps.

The Hornets’ defensive scheme is based on their defender’s ability to switch through multiple positions. A frontcourt made up of Miles Bridges, PJ Washington and Jones would be really intriguing to watch because of length and versatility.

Looking at the next video we see how his communication is on point and how easily he handle two different switches, then he fights for position down low and ends up with a good steal.

Jones is very far from a defined and ready product, and all these aspects are pointing out that Charlotte took a big risk with him but if he can reach a consistent level on both sides of the court the sky could be the limit.

The last clip is probably one of the best two-way actions you will see at the college level from last season. Jones handles the switch at the point of attack and gets the steal and eventually finishes with a crafty pull-up three on the other end.