The Charlotte Hornets sent a minor shockwave through the community when they waived KJ Simpson at the trade deadline. But it looks like the young point guard has already found a new home, reportedly signing a two-way deal with the Denver Nuggets.
Based on his production in two seasons in a Hornets uniform, his time with the organization had seemingly been numbered. The arrival of Coby White may have hastened Simpson’s exit from Charlotte, with the front office opting to let him go and use its third two-way spot on Tosan Evbuomwan.
You can only imagine how excited a few fans may have been when they heard the Hornets acquired a European forward with a difficult-to-spell name, only to be disappointed when they found out it wasn’t Giannis Antetokounmpo.
KJ Simpson going back to familiar territory
It remains to be seen if Charlotte will regret giving up on Simpson, who is only 23 years old and probably has his best basketball ahead of him. He could have also served as insurance if the team needed another point guard in case of injuries.
Like now, White has yet to make his Hornets debut, and it’s unclear how long his recovery from his strained calf will take. The squad has yet to feel the absence of White and Collin Sexton, whom it shipped to the Chicago Bulls, but it’s possible, even if slightly, that the Hornets could need another ball-handler like Simpson.
On the other hand, defending Simpson had sometimes been tough because of the shortcomings he had shown in Charlotte. For instance, the franchise couldn’t really rely on him to facilitate the offense or spread the floor. Even when he suited up for the Greensboro Swarm in the G League, he was apparently unable to give the Hornets enough reason to retain him.
Perhaps things will be different for Simpson. He spent three years playing for the University of Colorado Boulder, so the feeling of familiarity with the environment could boost his performance. Moreover, the expectations for him in Denver would be different, as the team has several playmakers at other positions. So, the former second-round pick can focus more on wreaking havoc on defense and providing some energy and intensity at the backcourt.
Hopefully, Simpson can make the most of his second chance in the league. While his Hornets tenure didn’t pan out as well as many fans expected, he did turn out to be somewhat of a crowd favorite in Charlotte, especially after he helped it secure the Summer League championship last year. Rooting for him won’t be that hard, even if he is set to play for a different team.