‘Meh’ to ‘great’: Grading the 3 Hornets’ qualifying offers

Hornets extend Theo Maledon a qualifying offer.

Last season, Theo Maledon was a two-way player for the Hornets but managed to see the court on 44 occasions. During those outings, Maledon averaged 6.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, shooting the rock at a 40.2% clip from deep.

Maledon isn’t a three-point threat, though. Nor is Maledon a genuine answer as a rotational guard. Sure, he can give you minutes as the third guard in a rotation, but even then, there will be better options available during the offseason. I get it; Maledon came in with low expectations and exceeded them. That doesn’t mean he needs to stick around.

If Kupchak and the front office want to keep developing the 22-year-old, then a second two-way contract with the franchise makes sense. However, if another team around the league wants to extend a legitimate NBA deal to Maledon and see him as part of their rotation, the Hornets shouldn’t stand in his way.

Yes, Charlotte needs to rebuild their roster around LaMelo. Yes, Maledon fits the age range of players Kupchak is probably looking at. But does he have the upside that’s required? If the coaching staff believes Maledon can develop into a genuine rotation guard, then who are we to judge? However, there will need to be a clear developmental plan in place if Charlotte wants to ensure Maledon doesn’t become anything more than trade filler in the next 12 – 18 months.