Hornets still have one question mark in starting five
The finishing touches on the Charlotte Hornets’ starting lineup appear to have been put into place. The lone remaining restricted free agent in the entire league, P.J. Washington, signed a three-year contract extension to remain in Charlotte, which leaves one position with a returning player that has a question mark attached. The center position.
The Hornets parted ways with veteran big man Mason Plumlee last season, allowing Mark Williams the opportunity to have his shot at claiming the starting gig. Williams was impressive, averaging 11.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 17 games. While impressive, the Hornets must tread carefully when moving forward.
There are plenty of times when a young player gets a chance at increased playing time and plays above their skill level. This can happen for a couple of reasons. The first is opponents not having a clear idea of what a player is and is not capable of. Considering the fact that Williams averaged just 14 minutes off the bench before making appearances in the starting lineup, in addition to appearing in only three games from Opening Night to late December can contribute to that.
The second thing to consider is there are plenty of instances of a player seeing increased playing time at the tail end of a lost season, which can result in inaccurate perceptions of a player running rampant. It is important not to put too much stock into an end-of-season performance where players are focused on getting through the season and avoiding any type of serious injury.
And then there is the offensive profile of Williams. Williams is not a player who is going to stretch out a defense. In fact, 94% of Williams’ field goal attempts came within 10 feet of the basket. It is pretty clear how Williams will score in the NBA with his limited offensive skillset and that is unlikely to change.
The value of Williams should come from his defense and as a clean-up man near the basket on offense. With a more complete starting lineup in Charlotte, it could result in fewer touches for Williams offensively and result in a lesser impact on the game overall. Should his end-of-season run not carry over into 2023-24, Charlotte may look to shake things up in their starting five.
