Trail Blazers just stole 21-year-old Summer League standout from Hornets

The Portland Trail Blazers have just signed 21-year-old wing Bryce McGowens to a two-way contract, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. They stole him right out from under the Charlotte Hornets noses.

Charlotte released McGowens in a string of moves to make room for some other business they were taking care of. This included trades for Reggie Jackson, Devonte’ Graham, and Harrison Barnes.

Heading into free agency, the Hornets were seen as a team willing to take on big salaries in exchange for draft capital, and they lived up to that billing. McGowens was simply an unfortunate casualty of that decision.

Trail Blazers just stole Summer League standout Bryce McGowens from Hornets after they released him

The Hornets made the choice to put an emphasis on their future, choosing to add draft capital and focus on their young core of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Mark Williams, and rookie Tidjane Salaun.

But as a result, they let a 21-year-old wing slip right through their fingers, and he’s hoping to make Charlotte regret letting him go in the first place.

Despite the fact that he had been released, McGowens was still suiting up for the Hornets in Summer League, and he was already making the Hornets’ decision to let him go look questionable.

Through three games with Charlotte’s Summer League squad, McGowens averaged 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 42.9% from the field and 20.0% from behind the three-point line.

But perhaps most impressive was McGowens’ ability to get to the charity stripe. In those three games, he averaged 9.3 free-throw attempts, shooting 78.6% from the line.

Obviously, McGowens’ inefficiency and inconsistent shooting from behind the arc are questions that will need to eventually be answered, but he’s clearly a talented basketball player. One that the Hornets just let walk away.

And at 21 years old, he has plenty of time to grow. The Trail Blazers will be banking on him doing so, and considering their current standing in the Western Conference, he could earn some opportunities to play next season.

Charlotte has plenty of other talented players they can focus on, but with how young McGowens is, letting him walk away for nothing seemed odd. Now, it seems like the Trail Blazers just stole him away.