The bench isn't a problem for the Charlotte Hornets anymore. Three games in, and it's clear that they have an unexpected trifecta of players who can thrive with the second unit and contribute in various ways: Moussa Diabate, Sion James, and Tidjane Salaun.
First of all, it remains to be seen if Diabate will continue playing as a reserve, as coach Charles Lee has used Ryan Kalkbrenner as the starting center so far. Perhaps Lee will decide based on the matchup, but there is an advantage to keeping the status quo, as "Moose" has been valuable as the Hornets' energy guy off the bench.
That much was evident in the Hornets' win over the Washington Wizards on Sunday. When they were battling from a double-digit halftime deficit in the third quarter, Diabate immediately changed the complexion of the bout when he was subbed in. They trailed 79-72 when the French big man was put on the floor. He then scored Charlotte's next five points, kickstarting a run that ended with the visiting club taking a 95-88 lead entering the fourth period.
If it weren't for Diabate, James would probably be the Hornets' most productive full-time reserve. His calling card has been his defense, which shouldn't come as a surprise, considering that it has been his bread and butter since college. However, the rookie has also been a valuable contributor on offense, particularly from beyond the arc, where he averages 1.7 shots per game on 71.4 percent shooting.
As for Salaun, he has defied expectations, finding a niche as a lengthy defender and not forcing himself to produce on offense. As a result, he has shot efficiently (60.0 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from downtown) and is second on the Hornets in plus/minus (+11.3), behind LaMelo Ball (+18.0).
The bench unit can make or break games for Hornets
The threesome of Diabate, James, and Salaun has been productive and, more importantly, provided Charlotte with a needed energy boost when any or all of them are on the court. However, other reserves have also chipped in to help the team go 2-1 in the standings.
Naturally, we cannot expect the Hornets' second unit to produce night in and night out, though it should not be surprising if the bench pieces continue to play out of their minds. But even if the box score looks barren during some of their contests, the aforementioned trio will likely bring consistent energy and hustle.
Hopefully, their teammates can keep up, especially Tre Mann, who was predicted to have a Sixth Man of the Year campaign before the start of the regular season but has struggled from the field. One of Collin Sexton and Kon Knueppel will also supply the second unit with another scoring punch once Brandon Miller returns from injury and takes his place back in the starting lineup.