With the postseason looking unlikely again for the Charlotte Hornets, they might have to start focusing more on determining which players should be a part of their future. A guy not yet on the roster, PJ Hall, should have already captured their attention.
If the name sounds familiar, that's because Hall currently plays for the Greensboro Swarm and helped the Hornets bring home the championship trophy in the Las Vegas Summer League. A remarkable offseason stint couldn't secure him a spot with the team, though, as the Hornets had already used up all of their standard and two-way roster spots at that point.
Consequently, the Clemson University product signed a two-way deal with the Memphis Grizzlies but was waived in mid-November. After a brief tenure with the G League squad Mexico City Capitanes, he was traded to the Swarm, reuniting him with some of the players he suited up alongside months ago.
Making some noise in the G League
Hall has already impressed after appearing in seven games during the Tip-Off Tournament. He has averaged 11.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per contest and has shot 58.1 percent from the field while representing the Swarm.
The 6-8 big man might not be tall enough to play as a full-time center in the NBA. But the good thing is that his range extends beyond the arc, although his 3-point shooting efficiency still needs some work. In addition, he can also attack the basket. Those qualities should allow Charlotte to assess his viability as a power forward, which is arguably the organization's weakest position this year.
Besides his statistical production, Hall has also exhibited the intangibles that could make him a beloved figure on the floor and in the locker room for the Hornets. He hustles hard, plays with physicality, and has a mean streak.
A huge obstacle to his path to the NBA is that the Hornets do not have the roster space to accommodate him. However, if some of the current pieces, particularly the veterans, can’t prove themselves worthy of using up a roster slot, the front office must not hesitate to unload any of them in favor of a promising young player, such as Hall.
And if the 23-year-old hoopster does end up getting a call-up from the Hornets, he would turn out to be one of their feel-good stories, considering his basketball journey so far. He went undrafted in the summer of 2024 but still managed to join the Denver Nuggets later that season.
This time around, he has a prime opportunity to play in the suit up in the NBA again as long as he maintains or even improves his game while biding his time with Greensboro.