Charlotte Hornets 2021-22 preview: Scottie Lewis
By Quinn Everts
What Could His Role On The Hornets Be?
Lewis is much less polished offensively than Kelly Oubre Jr. but could theoretically slide into Oubre’s spot for a few minutes a night and replace some of the same slashing and defending that Oubre brings to the Hornets. While Scottie is a few inches shorter than Kelly, his wingspan allows him to potentially defend the wings that Oubre will be tasked with stopping this season. However, with more established players like Cody Martin and even Wes Iwundu now possibly taking those leftover minutes, Lewis might be out of luck unless he turns serious heads in training camp.
Developing a consistent three-point shot could be the key to Scottie Lewis’ NBA career. Players of Scottie’s ilk like Derrick Jones Jr. have shown that athletic, defensive-minded players can hang around the league for years even without a consistent three-point shot, but there are far more instances of those “types” of players not making it unless they become at least a threat from deep. With a reliable shot, Lewis suddenly becomes a “3&D” guy, rather than an athletic defensive specialist, giving him a much better chance of sticking around.
Can His Defense Translate To The NBA Now?
If Lewis gets a crack with the Hornets this year, it will undoubtedly be thanks to his defensive dependability. Effort translates to any level, and so do length and speed, all three of which Lewis possesses. So sure, there is reason to believe that Lewis’ peskiness on defense can play–eventually– at the NBA level. But most likely not right away. He does a lot more good than bad on the defensive end and shows a lot of promise, but adjusting to the speed of NBA guards is an entirely different beast, and Lewis’ struggles on the offensive end make him better suited for Greensboro this season, especially with the Hornets hoping to compete for a playoff berth.
Lewis isn’t perfect (none of us are Scottie, it’s okay) on defense. He can sometimes try to use only his athleticism to block a shot or steal a pass, instead getting caught out of position. He also gets lost sometimes when he should be helping, or over-helps in an attempt for a highlight block.
What He Can Improve On This Year
3-Point Shooting
As I mentioned, shooting touch could make Lewis a more interesting prospect for the Hornets future. He shot 34.1% from deep in college, so his shot isn’t broken by any means. His release is a bit funky, but doesn’t need a full overhaul. If he can get his 3PT% up around 37-38 percent in Greensboro this year, consider that a successful progression.
Decision Making
Do not expect Lewis to shoulder much of the ball-handling or playmaking responsibilities in Charlotte or Greensboro. He posted a 1:1.3 assist to turnover ratio at Florida, along with a 19.3% Turnover Percentage, both of which are suboptimal.
He does have a lightning-fast first step, though, and his length and athleticism (how many times can those two things be mentioned in a single article?) allow him to adjust midair when trying to finish at the rim.
Ball Handling
Having a good first step can only be so effective if a player has the wherewithal to navigate the lane towards the hoop. In multiple instances, Lewis used his smooth athleticism to cover up some struggles dribbling in tight quarters or creating a shot off the bounce.