Charlotte Hornets opening week report card: grading player performance

The first week of the NBA regular season has officially concluded, which means it’s time to dish out some early-season grades for the 2023 Charlotte Hornets. This report card primarily considers player performance compared to preseason expectations. For example, LaMelo Ball will be judged much more harshly than Theo Maledon since Maledon is not the franchise cornerstone who signed a $260 million extension this offseason. Do you see where I’m going with this?

Everyone take a seat and pay attention, because class is in session. Here’s how this year’s squad has fared through week one of the regular season, starting with the backcourt.

Guards

LaMelo Ball: D

It’s no secret that preseason expectations for LaMelo Ball were high. Following an injury-riddled 2022-23 campaign where he only appeared in 36 games, Ball was projected to return to health and take the next step as a leader for the Hornets. However, the results after the first three games have been less than inspiring.

Ball averages 14.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists and has seen his minutes intentionally capped in the low 30s as he plays his way back to a full workload. The former all-star has been unable to find a rhythm scoring the ball and has only hit on 25% of his field goal attempts so far this year. LaMelo’s struggles peaked Monday night in the Spectrum Center in a double-digit loss to the shorthanded Nets. Ball played a mere 22 minutes due to foul trouble and finished 3/12 from the field and 0/6 from long distance.

I’m not suggesting to hit the panic button just yet. Ball missed the majority of last season due to injuries, and he’s clearly still getting back into game shape. Three games is too small of a sample size to judge someone with LaMelo’s proven track record, and I have complete confidence in him to right the ship sooner rather than later. Even so, here at Swarm and Sting, we don’t hand out easy grades to our favorite players. Part of being heralded as franchise savior is being held to a higher standard, and LaMelo’s grade accurately reflects his performance through the first week of the season – poor.

Terry Rozier: A-

If there’s one characteristic to describe Terry Rozier’s tenure in Charlotte, it’s consistency. Rozier has averaged at least 18 points every season with the Hornets and has continually been relied on as a closer in countless scenarios. This season has been no different. Scary Terry has posted 20 or more points in all three games this year and came through with some late-game baskets and free throws to seal Charlotte’s opening night win against Atlanta.

Rozier has performed above expectations set for him coming into the year. He’s been able to pick up the slack from LaMelo’s sluggish start by increasing his scoring output and serving as the primary ballhandler and distributor more than anticipated. The one downside for Terry through the first week is that he possesses a 116.4 defensive rating, the worst on the team.

Overall, Terry Rozier has been a bright spot for the Hornets through three games. He’s someone you feel confident in to get a bucket when you need it the most, and that ability can’t be measured. If Charlotte hopes to compete for their first playoff berth since 2016, Rozier must continue this production level throughout the rest of the season.

Theo Maledon: C-

The backup point guard spot in Charlotte has been a revolving door of names for the past few years. We’ve seen the likes of Dennis Smith Jr., Isaiah Thomas, Brad Wanamaker, and Ish Smith come off the bench to spell LaMelo Ball. Each of these players has had their moments, but none have lasted longer than a season – until now.

Theo Maledon re-signed with the Hornets in late September after appearing in 44 games last season. The former second-round pick from France has been solid on the defensive side of the ball, recording two steals in each of the previous two games. However, the offensive side of the ball has been a different story. Maledon has yet to hit a three-pointer through the first three games, and his 31% field goal percentage isn’t helping the Hornets’ shooting woes to start the year.

Maledon has been a serviceable reserve for Charlotte, but don’t be surprised to see newly signed Ish Smith leapfrog Maledon on the depth chart once he’s up to speed.

Forwards

Brandon Miller: A

Question marks have surrounded Brandon Miller long before he was selected second overall back in June. From off-the-court issues to an inconsistent Summer League performance, expectations for the Alabama one-and-done ranged far and wide. Miller’s transition from college to the pros was supposed to take time, and fans (myself included) braced for the ups and downs of the adjustment period. It turns out Miller had other plans.

Hornets fans, after years of disappointing lottery picks and head-scratching front-office decisions, it’s time to let your guard down. Allow yourself to see a glimmer of hope, to feel an ounce of relief, and accept the fact that, for now, it seems like the Hornets made a successful draft night decision.

Through his first three games, Miller has averaged over 17 points and 6 rebounds with shooting splits of 47/44/90. He boasts a true shooting percentage of 61% and is playing more than 30 minutes per game. Head coach Steve Clifford doesn’t have the best reputation for playing younger guys but has found it impossible to keep Miller off the floor.

Miller has improved in every game, and his best performance came Monday night against the Nets. He scored 22 points, grabbed 9 boards, and kept the Hornets within striking distance for much of the second half. Miller looks confident in catch-and-shoot situations, dribbles the ball with a purpose, and doesn’t slack off on defense – a far cry from his summer league inconsistencies. He also hasn’t looked afraid of playing on the big stage – just ask Isaiah Stewart.

Brandon Miller is clearly ready to contribute right away and will only improve as the season continues. He’s surpassed preseason expectations with flying colors and has earned top marks on this Charlotte Hornets week one report card.

Gordon Hayward: C+

An article mentioning Gordon Hayward that isn’t a mock trade – can you believe it? Embarking on his 14th year in the league, Hayward has performed almost exactly as expected through the season’s first week. He’s the only Hornet shooting above 44% from beyond the arc and has two games of at least eight boards. Hayward has been trusted to initiate certain offensive sets and has done a nice job of getting into the lane and setting teammates up for open looks. The Hornets desperately need the decisive version of Hayward for the majority of the year, but history tells us that’s very unlikely.

I’m lowering Hayward’s grade due to his inconsistency. Through the first two games, which were both tightly contested, Hayward scored 0 fourth-quarter points. His tendency to disappear in crunch time has plagued his time in Charlotte almost as much as his injury frequency. Even though he currently leads the team in steals, he’s not talented enough on defense to make up for the stretches where he’s a complete non-factor on offense.

As rookie sensation Brandon Miller continues to emerge, Hayward could see his role on this team dwindle. For now, much like the last few years, Hayward has been okay. Serviceable. Adequate. Those aren’t the adjectives you want to hear describing the highest-paid player on the team. More than anyone else on this roster, fans have learned to temper expectations surrounding Gordon Hayward. For a player with mediocre projections entering this season, Hayward has been the epitome of average– which is precisely what his grade exhibits.

P.J. Washington: B+

Coming off a year with career highs in points and minutes per game, P.J. Washington inked a 3-year/$48 million-dollar extension from Charlotte this offseason. Washington got off to a blistering start, scoring 25 points (including seven in the 4th quarter) to help defeat the Atlanta Hawks on opening night.

P.J.’s scoring numbers have slightly dipped over the previous two games, and he’s only connected on 21% of his shots from deep, but that hasn’t stopped him from impacting the game in other areas. Washington grabbed 12 boards against Brooklyn Monday night and has continued to showcase his improved ability to attack defenders off the dribble. Once thought of as strictly a pick-and-pop power forward with a limited future in the league, Washington has developed into a legitimate offensive weapon that can score at all three levels.

Taking on a more prominent role in the offense while maintaining his status as one of the team’s best defenders has P.J. Washington receiving one of the higher grades on this report card.

JT Thor: C

Did anyone have JT Thor ending up as the best player from the 2021 draft class on their Hornets bingo card? I doubt it. Kai Jones is gone, and James Bouknight had his fourth-year option declined earlier this week, which means he isn’t far behind. Meanwhile, Thor cemented himself in the Hornets’ rotation last season when he appeared in 69 games and has already played at least 19 minutes in every game this year.

Thor shows flashes of potential every now and then, but the 21-year-old Auburn product seems to be no more than a reserve for Charlotte. His length and athleticism make him a solid defender, and he is shooting the ball with more confidence than ever before. If Thor can consistently hit corner threes, polish up his decision-making, and hinder opposing scorers on defense, he’ll be an integral part of the Hornets’ bench for the foreseeable future.

Centers

Mark Williams: B+

The number one position that has given the Hornets the most grief in recent years is the center position. Charlotte has not had a legitimate starting center since the days of running their offense through Al Jefferson on the block. The names Bismack Biyombo, Frank Kaminsky, and Mason Plumlee will live in Hornets infamy for eternity.

Charlotte finally struck gold in the 2021 draft by selecting Mark Williams with the 15th overall pick. After spending a portion of his rookie season suiting up for the Greensboro Swarm, Williams got his shot in mid-February. In 17 games as the starting center, the former Duke Blue Devil averaged 11.6 points and 9.8 rebounds and gave Hornets fans a taste of what he could do in a full-time starting role.

For the most part, he’s lived up to the lofty expectations set for him coming into this year. Of the three games so far, Williams has performed well in two of them. An opening night stat line of 13 points and 15 boards started the season on the right note. The second-year pro followed his impressive debut with a two-point dud against Detroit and a bounce-back 18-point showing against the Nets.

Aside from the box scores, Williams has given the Hornets reliable rim protection and a genuine lob threat around the rim. His wingspan and ability to finish above the rim add an entirely new dimension to the game of a pass-first point guard like LaMelo Ball. If Williams can consistently protect the rim, roll hard off of screens, and finish a high percentage of shots around the basket, he’ll enjoy a myriad of successes as a Charlotte Hornet. The center position seems to be locked down long-term, which means Mark Williams deserves one of the top grades in this early-season report card.

Nick Richards: C-

Entering his fourth season in a Hornets uniform, Nick Richards will serve as the primary backup center in Charlotte for a second straight year. Richards averaged 8.2 points and 6.4 boards in 65 appearances last season, and the expectation is more of the same for the 2023-24 campaign.

There are certain matchups where Richards thrives – opening night against Atlanta is a good example. Richards tallied 7 points and 4 boards and ultimately held his own against Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu. He’s developed into a serviceable rebounder and rim protector in limited action. However, when teams play small ball or force Richards to make decisions on offense, he often looks lost. The former second-round pick can’t be trusted to produce on a nightly basis, and this inconsistency is the driving factor behind a low report card grade for Nick Richards.