Charlotte Hornets fans are counting the days until the team finally rids itself of Vasilije Micic. Considering how he has performed this season, there is a strong argument that he has no business staying in Charlotte beyond 2025. However, the organization seems intent on hanging onto the former EuroLeague MVP.
Perhaps the fear of not having any other established playmaker on the roster besides him and LaMelo Ball has had the Hornets hesitant to split with the Serb. The extended absence of Tre Mann may have also factored into the (non-)decision.
Still, it's worth noting that save for a few solid outings, Micic has mostly been unreliable on offense. He has sunk just 32.8 percent of his field-goal attempts and has registered an awful assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.8. So, Charlotte might be able to seek better options in the trade market or free agency.
Nick Smith Jr. should be consistently playing more than Vasa Micic
Interestingly, the Hornets don't even need to look beyond their roster to find someone more suitable for playing the minutes the coaching staff has chosen to entrust Micic with.
Based on his performances in the G League and the NBA in recent days, Nick Smith Jr. seems primed for a more prominent role on the team's rotation.
The second-year pro played 14.1 minutes per game during his rookie campaign, but his time on the floor has dwindled a bit this season. In the past two meetings, though, he has averaged 20.2 minutes per contest. And he didn't disappoint.
Against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, he was the only guy aside from LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller the Hornets could rely on to get some buckets, finishing with a season-high 18 points. Smith Jr. didn't have as strong a performance versus the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. However, he played a key role in Charlotte's win, as being a threat on offense made the Suns' defense honest.
He had just eight points but added four rebounds and three assists, one of which was a half-court lob to Miles Bridges, who threw it down authority, early in the fourth quarter. He appears to show great chemistry with his teammates, which Micic has been unable to exhibit.
Some folks might argue that Smith Jr. is more of a shooting guard and thus could cause even more instability in the playmaking department. To counter that point, it's not as if the 30-year-old floor general has been that much of a difference-maker for the Hornets.
Maybe Charles Lee's assessment of NSJ can drive up optimism that the youngster can develop into a serviceable combo guard, as the rookie coach said that he is "starting to learn how to create for others as well and trust the pass." If that's the case, then Smith Jr. should continue to be ahead of Micic in the rotation.