The Hornets are chock-full of young talent, but like many talented young teams (*cough Houston Rockets cough*), they’re starting to feel the pain of having too many developmental projects and not enough minutes to go around.
Expectations for Charlotte are low this year, and most of the roster can’t even rent a car. Nobody is expecting a deep playoff run. Instead, management, coaches, and fans want to see progress from their youngsters.
After LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, the organization needs to determine which players to invest in and which to cut loose. Let’s dive in.
JT Thor
The Hornets have tried a half-in, half-out approach with JT Thor, and it hasn’t worked. They need to commit right now to see if they have a steady contributor on their hands.
Assuming the Hornets retain PJ Washington (which may not be a safe assumption!), the Hornets’ frontcourt is surprisingly crowded. Gordon Hayward, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, and PJ Washington will all likely command major minutes at the three and the four, and Cody Martin will receive some run, too. On paper, there isn’t much room for Thor.
But Hayward is often in street clothes, Washington may not be back, and nobody knows what sort of shape Bridges will show up in after a year off from basketball (plus, he’s suspended to start the season). There is an opportunity here for Thor if he can seize his chance.
The idea of Thor is tantalizing: an octopus-armed defensive menace with some deep-ball chops and an off-the-dribble pull-up game. It hasn’t materialized yet, but Thor, despite entering his third year, still can’t legally order a craft IPA. It’s easy to look at his raw talent and mentally mold his clay into something resembling Mikal Bridges or OG Anunoby.
We know Coach Steve Clifford is a fan. He’s repeatedly praised Thor’s work ethic and defense, which are the two things Clifford values most in players. But now it’s on Clifford to make sure Thor gets an opportunity to shine.
With Bridges an unrestricted free agent after the year, Washington’s status up in the air, and Hayward always a health concern, the current frontcourt traffic jam seems likely to clear up as soon as next season. The Hornets need to know if Thor can be a productive rotation player by then.