With the Charlotte Hornets’ season seemingly being over before it started, it is hard to find any silver linings. The team has underperformed in almost every expected metric, and while that can be attributed to many factors, it has already happened, and we have to live with that now. Although this is the case, there is one positive outcome that the fanbase can look to going into the future of the franchise, and that is the team leadership's ability to find and bring in diamonds in the rough via two-way contracts.
The Hornets have had six players on two-way contracts this season. Those guys have accounted for 33.2 percent of the Hornets' total points per game production alone and could be a real part of the Hornets’ future.
We will break down each player and their overall contribution to Charlotte this season and potentially in the future.
Jared Rhoden
We will start with the guy who is no longer on the roster. Jared Rhoden only appeared in four games while recording a total of four points and four rebounds. His stint with the team was severely short-lived, and he obviously didn’t fit with what the team wanted because he was quickly cut by to make room for the next guy on the list.
Isaiah Wong
Isaiah Wong was the guy signed to replace Rhoden. He suited up for 20 games in the purple and teal pants, averaging 6.0 points per game. Wong had a great start with the team, scoring over eight points in four of his first six appearances and playing over 15 minutes per game. His production then began to fluctuate, scoring as high as 17 points and going scoreless multiple times in his last 14 games.
The guard's stint in Charlotte ended in mid-February with him being cut by the Hornets, after which he went overseas, joining the Lithuanian team Zalgiris Kaunas for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Wendell Moore Jr.
Wendell Moore Jr. was picked up after a two-way spot opened up in Charlotte after the trade deadline. He has played 12 games for Buzz City, averaging 5.2 points per game. He has been a decent ball-handler, posting 17.1 minutes per contest while playing in place of the regularly injured Hornets guards.
While it's not an on-the-court stat, Moore Jr. is one of three guys on the roster from the Charlotte area. Although he has been the lowest-performing current two-way guy, his Queen City roots could encourage the team to keep him for guard depth as opposed to other similar-level players.
Damion Baugh
This electric guard had one of the best starts to a career anyone has ever had. Damion Baugh is only the second player to average 15.0 points per contest on 73.3 percent shooting over the first two NBA games of his career since the 1975-76 campaign. The other player was Zion Williamson, the 2019 first overall pick and a two-time All-Star.
While Baugh has slowed down since his hot start, he still is averaging 8.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals in 28.1 minutes per game. He is shifty on the offensive end and strong on the defensive end. He projects to be an all-around guard in this league, but the real concern will be whether he will take a spot on the guard-heavy Charlotte roster or on one of the other 29 teams in the NBA beyond this season.
KJ Simpson
KJ Simpson is different from the other five guys on the list because he was drafted to Charlotte last summer and has been signed to a two-way slot because of his draft position. That does not change the fact that Simpson has been killing it for the Hornets.
His rookie season has had him averaging 7.3 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.7 rebounds, and over his last 14 appearances, he is averaging 10 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per meeting. Evidently, the point guard has shown vast improvement in his play as the season has worn on. KJ is showing that he can be a part of the backcourt rotation of the future in the Queen City.
Moussa Diabate
“The Moose” has arguably been the brightest part of the Charlotte Hornets' 2024-25 campaign. He is someone most fans knew very little about coming into the season. He was signed to the Hornets this offseason after playing for the LA Clippers' Summer League team.
Moussa Diabate was immediately thrust into the lineup after Mark Williams suffered a foot strain during training camp. He immediately brought a level of hustle I have never seen before on the floor. It feels like every time he subs into the game, he is making plays and contributing to winning basketball. Even with him being a 6-9 center, he is able to grab key rebounds and reject shots by taller opponents.
Diabate is averaging 5.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, and his impact was felt enough by the leadership in Charlotte that he was signed to a full three-year contract worth around $5.7 million. It has gotten to the point where there are fans in Toronto wearing his jersey. He is seen as one of Buzz City’s bigs of the future, and rightfully so.