Tre Mann has arguably been the Charlotte Hornets' most disappointing player this season. There have been games where he shouldn't even be on the floor, given that he has registered the second-worst true shooting percentage among qualified players.
Entering Friday's slate of games, the combo guard's true shooting percentage, which measures a player's shooting efficiency by adjusting for 3-pointers and free throws, was 46.3 percent. Of the players who are in the top 150 in field-goal attempts, only Cole Anthony of the Milwaukee Bucks had been poorer in that metric — but only by 0.1 percent.
The problem in Mann's case is that scoring is the only real contribution he can provide to the Hornets. Based on what we have seen from him in the first quarter of this campaign, he just isn't fit to be an offensive facilitator.
Mann's tendency to have tunnel vision and hunt for his shot instead of creating opportunities for his teammates, penchant for turning the ball over, and pretty low ceiling as a defender mean that he might never be more than a microwave scorer off the bench. And if his shots are failing him, it's tough to justify the minutes he has been receiving.
Hornets finally have no reason to keep playing Tre Mann
To be fair to the Hornets, the main reason they have had to ride with the fifth-year pro despite his fall from grace was the injuries to LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Their Saturday win over the Chicago Bulls, though, showed that when the team is at full strength, they have the luxury of not having to put Mann on the floor, especially when he isn't performing well.
The fourth quarter of the bout saw Mann stay on the bench the entire time, as coach Charles Lee opted to use a rotation of the starters, Moussa Diabate, Collin Sexton, and Sion James. Naturally, it worked out well for Charlotte, as it finally won a close contest and snapped its seven-game skid.
Perhaps it's time for Lee to keep the short leash on Mann, as he needs to earn his spot on the rotation. If he can't regain his shooting touch, it might be better for the team to try playing James or Liam McNeeley more. Even two-way guard Antonio Reeves was able to make an impact during his brief call-up from the G League.
As for Mann, it's clear what he must do to become playable again: either he finds his offense again or seeks other ways to be a valuable contributor for the Hornets. Until then, he has to get used to cheering on his teammates from the bench.