The draft tonight is just the start of a long offseason for the Charlotte Hornets. They have other roster moves to address, including whether to stick with Mark Williams or trade him again. It won't be easy, but if his defense is the primary basis in the decision-making process, giving him up wouldn't be that hard.
Through his first three seasons in the league, Williams has yet to show that he can be a solid defensive anchor despite possessing the length and athleticism of one. And it cannot merely be attributed to the lack of opportunities brought about by his injury-ravaged career. Even when healthy, he hasn't been a good rim protector, which is a scary proposition for a Hornets squad devoid of positive perimeter defenders.
In Williams' defense, his calling card is his offense and rebounding, and he does it well in both areas. In fact, this season, the 23-year-old big man led Charlotte in offensive rating and offensive win shares. He also hauled in 13.7 rebounds per 36 minutes, which would have been in the top 10 among all players had he qualified for the league leaders.
Most successful teams have a competent interior defender
The Hornets only need to look at the top squads in recent years to realize how important it is to have a reliable defender manning the paint and capable of switching onto ball-handlers, especially in key possessions.
The reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder had Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren as the last line of defense. Even their opponent, the Indiana Pacers, had a proficient interior defender in Myles Turner, who has also been mentioned as a potential target for Charlotte more than once. In previous years, the likes of Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, Nikola Jokic, Kevon Looney, Draymond Green, and Brook Lopez anchored the paint.
Some might argue that Williams probably doesn't have the IQ and instincts that are seen in a plus defender. However, the same could be said about a younger Lopez, who was known more for his post-up game earlier in his career. The former All-Star then redefined his play style as he aged, becoming a 3-and-D center, which resulted in a couple of All-Defensive selections and a ring with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Maybe Williams can use his 7-6 wingspan and 9-9 standing reach and emulate what Lopez has done right, particularly on D, without laying aside his rim-running tendencies and rebounding acumen. That way, he can shut the trade talks or rumors up.
If Charlotte doesn't think its 2022 first-round pick is up to it, perhaps a parting of ways again is necessary. The front office can then seek a replacement in the coming draft using either or both of its second-round selections.