One of the things I was worried about with Miles Bridges returning was the impact it would have on players who were playing well with the minutes allocated to them. One of the players who seems to be adapting, though, is P.J. Washington.
- Games Started (12 Games)
- 14.8 PPG
- 5.3 REB
- 2.0 AST
- 0.4 STLS
- 0.7 BLKS
- 45% FG
- 30% 3PT
- 73% FT
Since Miles Bridges Has Been Back (8 Games/0 Starts)
- 10.4 PPG
- 5.4 REB
- 3.1 AST
- 1.1 STLS
- 1.4 BLKS
- 39% FG
- 35% 3PT
- 68% FT
As a starter, you can see that P.J. was more effective on the offensive end. With his newfound role coming off the bench, P.J. is providing effort to a second team to last in defensive rating. Of all the significant pieces on the Charlotte Hornets, Washington has surprised me the most. I also believe of all the Hornets on the roster this season, He had to prove the most.
The contract extension.
Going into the 22-23 season, Washington was a question mark for this Hornets team. Despite averaging 15.7 PPG in the 73 games he played in, There was no clear stance on him returning to the team. He was the last restricted free agent to sign a contract (3 yrs/48 million.) For a guy to average 15.3PPG in this style of NBA, 48 million dollars over three years was a bargain. With the new contract, It was time to make things happen.
Starting
With Miles Bridges out for the first ten games, P.J. was listed as the starting power forward. The expectation around the league when it came to the Hornets was they would be one of the worst teams in the club, and their 3-9 start just confirmed those suspicions. I have my grips with Steve Clifford, and I still believe that James Borrego was a better fit with the constructed roster. Despite that, You knew that reinforcements were on the way.
The Move To The Bench
It took all of one game for Bridges to return to the starting lineup. When on the hot seat, you will do everything possible to cool that seat down. This was a move that was going to be made no matter what. I commend P.J. for not gloating and pouting like most players do when they aren’t starting when they believe they deserve to. The move to the bench has caused his offensive efficiency to take a bit of a hit, but he is more engaged on the defensive end. Teams need guys like this to be successful.
In Conclusion.
I believe P.J. Washington will be a long-standing member of this team. Athletes’ pride can hurt the chemistry of a team, and P.J. had the perfect opportunity to be messy with this demotion. I think he sees that the team has a better chance to win when he’s playing with the second unit. The goal for everyone who plays professional sports is to start. Sometimes it doesn’t work that way. No matter what, You have to be the ultimate professional, and that’s precisely what P.J. Washington has shown himself to be.
West Coast Hoops 