Charlotte Hornets need improvement from Mark Williams

Mark Williams came into the league as one of two first-round draft picks for the Charlotte Hornets. And if that wasn’t enough, the other player selected was also a big—Jalen Duren was selected two picks before him by the Hornets. Duren, who was later traded in a three-team deal involving his ultimate destination the Detroit Pistons, began his career in a decidedly different way than Williams. Duren started his career with a 14-point, 10-rebound game.

He also averaged over 20 minutes a game through the first 10 games that he played. Williams only started 17 games all season (in comparison to Duren’s 31) and didn’t consistently start playing 20+ minutes a game until midway through February. Duren’s developmental plan serves as a stark contrast to Williams’.

What does a successful 2nd season look like for Mark Williams?

Williams will start his second season as the presumed starter for the Charlotte Hornets. Unlike his rookie year, there is no veteran that he will need to displace, like when he was drafted and Mason Plumlee was having arguably the best season in his career.  Williams will forever be linked to Duren. And his progress in the league may serve as a case study for the benefits and detriments of slowly bringing along heralded players.

This season will essentially serve as his rookie year in a lot of respects. Not only is his position secured in the lineup, but he will likely get far more time with the team’s best player, LaMelo Ball, who suffered an ankle injury soon after Williams began routinely starting. Consistently playing with a pick-and-roll threat like Ball, one of the league’s best passers, will ultimately be great for the guy that will likely be setting a lot of those screens.

With a better group of players surrounding him, the expectations will also increase. Gone is the cloak of playing for a team in the throes of an overwhelmingly losing season. And with the second pick in the draft on the team, as well as a possible selling of the franchise, the Hornets will be the focus of far more national attention than they were this past season. Not to mention, Kai Jones and Nick Richards will likely be gunning for more playing time as well. It’s different as the clear starter than it was as a reserve.

To his credit, even in limited time, Williams showed what made him a first-round draft pick out of Duke. He produced 11 double-doubles. With 10 of those instances coming in games he started. To keep that sort of production would be a tall order, but the 7’1 center will likely become more dominant as his minutes increase. Williams, who finished 2nd among rookies in PER according to ESPN, has the opportunity to be a phenomenal young player—capable of making an appearance in the Rising Stars game in Indianapolis next year.
Williams may have started slowly, but his time is coming. The glimpses he showed as a part of the Hornets’ defensive improvements were particularly impressive. With more time on the court, he will prove the Hornets are capable of developing talent.