Midseason report card: grading every Hornets player’s performance at All-Star break
By Ben Handler
Bryce McGowens, Grade: B
The 6’7” 21-year-old second-year guard out of Nebraska looks like a solid find for the Hornets. He’s proven to be useful as a guy who does a little bit of everything, helping out on both ends and providing whatever the team needs.
He’s flashed a little bit of shooting, a little bit of playmaking, an ability to d up, and can hold his own inside and is a pretty good rebounder for a guard. He profiles as a role player in the future, but if he can improve his jump shot, he can be a very positive rotation player.
It likely won’t happen overnight, McGowens is another player whose talent is mostly raw and he needs to polish his game with reps and experience. He won't be getting that in Charlotte anymore after the trade deadline.
The next two years of his contract are not guaranteed, but I think he’s worth keeping around if the Hornets can find a spot for him. He’s shown enough to me that makes me think he could have a solid future as a three-and-d type of player. But so much of that upside is dependent on developing a reliable three-point shot, even if that’s just catch-and-shoot threes from the corners.