Ranking the Hornets’ recent signings based on who could get a roster spot

2. Marcus Garrett

Of the Charlotte Hornets' four recent signings, Marcus Garrett has appeared in the most NBA games. He made 12 appearances for the Miami Heat in the 2021-22 season as an undrafted rookie before spending most of his pro career in the G League.

The biggest reason Charlotte would even think of signing him to the roster or a two-way deal is his stellar defense. Garrett was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 when he was a junior at the University of Kansas.

He would certainly fill a need for the Hornets, who don't appear to have anyone who can serve as their point-of-attack defender.

Unfortunately, Garrett doesn't bring anything else to the table because he has a pretty inefficient outside shot and hasn't yet shown the ability to create shots for himself or his teammates consistently. Last season, he recorded 10.1 points, 4.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest for the Greensboro Swarm.

The 25-year-old guard had the opportunity to prove himself in this year's Summer League but turned out to be a dud.

If Charlotte is serious about looking for a player capable of effectively covering opposing ball handlers, it might be better off leaving Garrett with the Swarm and bringing back Dennis Smith Jr. The former lottery pick thrived with the Hornets in the 2022-23 campaign and is still available in the free-agent market.