The Charlotte Hornets have been relatively healthy since the All-Star break, and the hope is that trend continues into the postseason. Charles Lee has been tweaking his rotations lately, and one of the biggest changes is Ryan Kalkbrenner’s rapidly shrinking role.
Kalkbrenner opened the season as a rookie starter and held that spot for a solid stretch. But by December, Moussa Diabate had overtaken him and cemented himself as the team’s starting center.
Over the last two matchups against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics, Kalkbrenner logged only about two minutes in each fourth quarter. Lee clearly trusts Diabate to handle the bulk of the center minutes, and he’s also leaning more heavily into small-ball lineups featuring Grant Williams.
Is the small ball five the way to go?
Williams played 26 minutes against his former team on Tuesday night, and his impact was obvious. His floor spacing, timely three-point shooting, and defensive versatility offered far more value than a slower, traditional big. He even spent stretches locking down Jaylen Brown, something Kalkbrenner simply can’t replicate given his slower foot speed.
But that shouldn't take away what Kalkbrenner has done this year, as this rookie class has been insanely good. He's quietly grown into one of the Hornets’ most reliable rookies. For a second‑round pick earning real rotation minutes, he’s performed like a top‑10 to top‑15 rookie all season.
He’s on the verge of reaching 100 blocks on the season, and he’s converting roughly 75 percent of his shots despite almost all of them being created for him. His efficiency, rim protection, and ability to stay within his role have made him an unexpectedly steady contributor.
Kalkbrenner is adding physicality as he adjusts to the NBA, but his offensive limitations remain glaring. He provides no shooting threat outside the paint, struggles on the offensive glass, and his defense is largely confined to rim protection. When opponents hunt mismatches, his lack of lateral quickness becomes a liability. There's just some lineups without Kalkbrenner that might be better in certain matchups.
As the postseason approaches, the rotation is tightening. Even players like Josh Green have seen their minutes dip into the single digits. Playoff basketball typically means heavy workloads for starters and extended minutes for the most trusted role players.
If Charlotte draws Boston in the playoffs (which is a real possibility), Kalkbrenner’s minutes could shrink even further. The recent matchup with Boston felt like a playoff game and Brown was reminded of it. Lee may prioritize lineups with more shooting and more switchable defenders capable of slowing elite scorers. In those areas, Williams and Diabate have been noticeably more effective.