Swarm and Sting
Fansided

3 players the Hornets need to develop, and 2 they should give up on

By Michael Shearer

Jul 29, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; James Bouknight (Connecticut) walks off the stage after being selected as the number eleven overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 29, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; James Bouknight (Connecticut) walks off the stage after being selected as the number eleven overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kai Jones, Charlotte Hornets
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 05: Kai Jones #23 of the Charlotte Hornets slam dunks against the Golden State Warriors in the first half during the 2023 NBA California Classic at Golden 1 Center on July 05, 2023 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Kai Jones

Sigh.

I want Kai Jones to be good so badly. He’s a freaky athlete even by the standards of a league full of the world’s freakiest athletes, as we saw when he mashed a basketball on Victor Wembanyama’s head during Summer League.

But nothing Jones has done has quite worked out. The three-pointer never developed. The defensive playmaking instincts are undone by high foul rates. He’s a poor rebounder on both sides and although he tries, he can’t keep up with perimeter players.

Jones also has 19 assists… in his career. By comparison, he has accumulated 37 turnovers (thanks to last year’s ghastly 24% turnover rate). That’s not great!

The biggest issue: the power forward experiment is dead. He’s proven he can’t be anything other than a center, and the Hornets already have two better (and improving) young centers in Mark Williams and Nick Richards. Even if the Hornets wanted to keep him around, it’s hard to imagine him earning enough playing time to make an impact.

He had moments in Summer League, and you can’t teach his athleticism. Perhaps another team will be interested in picking Jones up if the Hornets finally cut bait. At this point, it would be best for both parties if Jones isn’t on the roster for long.

Next. What each Charlotte Hornets draft pick brings to the team for 2024. dark

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