With Kon Knueppel missing action for the first time this season, Tre Mann had the perfect opportunity to show he can pick up the slack. Instead, he didn't force the Charlotte Hornets to play him more than four minutes. And he is losing time to prove he can be a valuable long-term piece for the franchise.
The Hornets' offense needed some jolt on Monday in their 123-113 loss against the Milwaukee Bucks. After recording 66 points in the first half, they could only muster 47 in the final two periods.
LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller combined for 57 points. However, they shot just 9-23 and 9-22 from the field, respectively. Miles Bridges exited the game after just seven minutes of action, leaving Charlotte with a huge hole on offense. Collin Sexton, who has been a revelation for the team this year, scored 16 off the bench. Josh Green contributed 10 points but couldn't buy a bucket when it mattered most.
Waiting for the ice-cold Tre Mann's resurgence
Scoring is where Mann is supposed to help the Hornets. For some reason, though, he has continued to be atrocious in that area. He is averaging 8.0 points per game with a field-goal percentage of 35.0 percent.
The combo guard could have vindicated himself by at least being useful in the playmaking department. But the problem is that he has dished out just 2.5 assists per contest this year while turning the ball over 1.6 times a game.
Should the Hornets continue waiting on Mann to get it together? If the Monday bout was any indication, it appears they are ready to put him at the end of the bench. Liam McNeeley played eight more minutes than him, although the rookie was deserving of the increased playing time. He rewarded the team with seven points and three rebounds in five minutes of game time in the third frame.
That is certainly bad news for Mann unless he can engineer a massive turnaround. If he can't switch on his microwave scoring abilities, there's little reason for Charlotte to have him ahead of the likes of more productive guards or wings, such as Collin Sexton, Josh Green, Sion James, and McNeeley. Even two-way player Antonio Reeves showed more promise in his brief stints with the Hornets.
Trading Mann might not be a viable option for the organization, especially based on his performance in this campaign. The only possible reasons another squad might take a flyer on him are his unrealized potential and his cheap and short contract. On the other hand, his being guaranteed just $8 million this season and the next might make it easier for the Hornets to waive him if there is an opportunity to add a more impactful player.