3 ways Josh Green can tap into unrealized potential with Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets have swooped in and made the most of an opportunity to help execute the first six-team trade in NBA history. While all eyes were on Klay Thompson joining the Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte quietly made an excellent pickup by acquiring swingman Josh Green.
Green, 23, will now have a chance to start for the Hornets and tap into the potential that made him a first-round draft pick in 2020.
The Mavericks have been in win-now mode since the moment they realized Luka Doncic was a walking postseason appearance. It's certainly not a bad position to be in, but Doncic's development was arguably at a faster pace than what the front office in Dallas was preparing itself for.
An appearance in the 2024 NBA Finals proved that their eventual approach paid off, but players like Green were often who paid the price for the Mavericks' sudden ambition.
Green finally received some semblance of consistency in his role over the past two seasons, but his full potential remains unexplored. There have been flashes of brilliance, but the full extent of what he's capable of remains unclear.
Thankfully, Charles Lee and the Hornets will have every opportunity to assist Green in living up to his full potential.
Enable Defensive Potential
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of what Green brings to the table is his defensive potential. Between his physical tools and the film that suggests there's something to work with, Green could be the connective tissue that links LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
If the Hornets are going to help Green become the player that he's capable of developing into, then it all starts on the defensive end of the floor.
Green is the prototypical wing from a physical perspective. Standing at 6'5" and 200 pounds with a 6'10" wingspan, he has the size, length, and strength to defend either wing position and even switch successfully against smaller 4s.
Green's energy can also provide a massive boost on the defensive end of the floor, although his overeagerness could stand to be coached to a more manageable level.
Green isn't a lockdown defender, but his qualities suggest that he has the potential to reach those heights. In addition to having the ideal measurements, he's a fluid athlete with a degree of explosiveness that enables him to get to spots quicker than the average defender.
If Lee and the Hornets can help Green tap into his defensive potential, he could become the missing piece for Charlotte's promising perimeter.