Swarm and Sting
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Charlotte Hornets rotation projections entering training camp

By Andrew McDaniel

Sep 26, 2022; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12), guard LaMelo Ball (1), guard Terry Rozier (3) and guard James Bouknight (2) pose during Charlotte Hornets Media Day at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2022; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12), guard LaMelo Ball (1), guard Terry Rozier (3) and guard James Bouknight (2) pose during Charlotte Hornets Media Day at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 28, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (12), forward Cody Martin (11) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reach for the loose ball during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (12), forward Cody Martin (11) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reach for the loose ball during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Second Unit:

Backup Point Guard: Dennis Smith Jr

Backup Shooting Guard: Cody Martin

Backup Small Forward: Kelly Oubre Jr

Backup Power Forward: Jalen McDaniels

Backup Center: Nick Richards

It’s hard to predict the bench rotation, but with the Hornets not having all that much turnover this feels like a fairly safe bet.

The addition of Dennis Smith Jr makes him the only point guard on the roster that’s not in the starting lineup, so he should man the backup point guard role where he can provide some athleticism and perimeter defense which the Hornets need.

Cody Martin, Kelly Oubre and Jalen McDaniels all received a good number of minutes last season and should continue to see those minutes once again in 2022-2023. Martin’s defensive ability and improvement of his three-point shot landed him a new contract. Charlotte fans hope that Kelly Oubre will get off to a hot start the way he did last season given that he was a sixth man of the year candidate in the first half of the season, and hopefully he will stay consistent for the whole year. Jalen McDaniels provided solid minutes last season when he was healthy and should take another step forward in his development in 2022-2023.

I know what you’re thinking: Another first round pick left out of the rotation? It appears that way to start the season at least as Steve Clifford was quoted on media day saying, “Plumlee will start and if the season started tonight, Nick Richards would be the backup”. For that reason, one prediction is Nick Richards to be the backup to Mason Plumlee. It seems rookie Mark Williams will be eased into his role with the Hornets. If Richards has improved the way that Clifford talks about, the team could be seeing a new and improved Nick Richards that fans aren’t used to seeing.

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