Roundtable: Who Should Win the Hornets' Backup Point Guard Job?
LaMelo Ball is the face of the Charlotte Hornets franchise and is going to play significant minutes every night he's on the floor. The problem, however, is Ball has dealt with a few injuries in his first three years in the league and hasn't been able to play a full season.
Health is a concern, but it's not nearly as big of a concern as Charlotte's offense going out of whack when he takes a seat on the bench for a few minutes. The Hornets have struggled to find a quality backup to Ball since he entered the league and the offense takes a major hit when he's not on the floor.
So with that said, who should win the backup job this year? Here's what our staff thinks:
Schuyler Callihan
Of the options currently on the roster, I think it's Frank Ntilikina and I don't think it's really that much of a discussion. He's a well-rounded defensive player who will give quality minutes. The same issue exists offensively as he's not much of a threat on that end of the floor. This has been a glaring hole on the roster since the summer and it's one the Hornets will need to upgrade at some point throughout the course of the season to bolster their bench and give them a shot at making the postseason.
James Plowright
If option A is Ntilikina, B is Sumner and C is Maledon, I think I would select option D, someone else. The backup point guard is currently the biggest weakness on the team and I've not seen anything so far in pre-season to allay my fears. Is Tony Parker still around in good shape? How old is Ramon Sessions these days? In all seriousness, the Hornets should keep a close eye on players being cut as the pre-season comes to an end as there are still potential upgrades out there. Okay, enough procrastination I'll pick. Frank Ntilikina, by default. If Theo Maledon was healthy he would have been my pick but a right shoulder injury has sidelined him for all of pre-season so far. If he can return to form of last year he will be a more natural creator and more explosive off the dribble getting the ball into the paint than Ntilikina. The glass-half-full view is Ntilikina is new to Charlotte's system and hasn't played with the ball in his hands in several seasons, perhaps he continues to improve as he becomes more comfortable and his three-point shot improves.
Sam Dracula
Charlotte’s backup point guard situation during the LaMelo Ball era has been and is currently underwhelming. Hornets fans witnessed several non-PGs try to fill the role, PGs who were out of the league before joining the team, and PGs who no longer play in the NBA after wearing the purple and teal. It’s been bad. Ball can’t play every minute of every game. The roster is filled with guys who can play hard but not dictate the tempo. Without Ball, Charlotte is once again setting itself up for dry runs and lost leads. Sumner and Ntilikina's effort on defense doesn’t go unnoticed but they leave a lot to be desired on the other end. Maledon I like a lot but he’s a 3rd PG on a good team. The backcourt is the weakest area of the floor and will likely let this team down during the season. Out of all the options, I feel most comfortable with Ntilikina as the backup PG. He's a big-bodied veteran and former top-10 draft pick. Who knows, this could be the change of scenery he needs to fulfill his potential. But if I’m in the Hornets front office, I’m calling the Wizards every day hoping to strike a deal for Tyus Jones.
You can follow us for future coverage by liking us on Facebook & following us on X:
Facebook - All Hornets
X - @All_Hornets and Schuyler Callihan at @Callihan_.
