The Charlotte Hornets made plenty of masterful moves this offseason, although many were left confused by their decision to sign Spencer Dinwiddie. Second-year pro KJ Simpson lighting up Summer League may have just further highlighted how the Hornets possibly goofed in adding Dinwiddie.
Simpson has been a revelation over the past weeks, providing the squad with a steady presence at the point guard spot. He has averaged 17.0 points and 5.8 assists per game, both of which lead the team, while having shot efficiently (47.3 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from 3-point range) before the semifinal matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Perhaps what has been more impressive about the 2024 second-round pick is that his leadership and defense have blossomed.
Summer League coach Chris Jent's challenge for the floor general seems to have been received well. Before leaving for Las Vegas, Jent wanted Simpson to "use his voice and dominate the defensive end." That has precisely been the case, as KJ could be seen offering some guidance to his younger teammates and has been a pest while guarding opposing ball-handlers.
The two-way promise the playmaker out of the University of Colorado Boulder had exhibited during his rookie year seems to have manifested further in Summer League. Unfortunately, it may be a long while after the championship bout against the Sacramento Kings before Hornets fans see more of Simpson, as he is way down in the squad's depth chart and is likely to spend most of his time in the G League unless injuries pile up again.
Spencer Dinwiddie stands in the way of KJ Simpson's development
Maybe Charlotte should have waited until later in the offseason before finalizing its decision to bring in Dinwiddie. Had the front office known that Simpson would progress to this extent, maybe it would have reserved the veteran's roster spot for another piece and given the youngster more opportunities to establish himself as an NBA player.
Interestingly, Charlotte still needs a proven wing defender and may regret having no choice but to let Josh Okogie go in free agency. It still actually has to give up at least two more, with another big-bodied perimeter defender, Pat Connaughton, likely to be among the casualties.
Hopefully, Dinwiddie will prove to be worth it and provide the Hornets with the playmaking and leadership expected of him. The jury's out on whether he will be a seamless fit with the rest of the crew, though, based on his skill set. The journeyman has been notably inefficient from the field, particularly from beyond the arc in recent years. His passing could be better, as his average assists per 36 minutes isn't exactly inspiring.
The good news is that Dinwiddie is on a team-friendly one-year deal. So, if his partnership with the Hornets goes south quickly, the organization can simply cut its losses by trading or waiving him in the middle of the regular season and giving Simpson a shot at cracking the rotation.