Continuing with the 2023-24 Charlotte Hornets assessment, We will grade the shooting guard position. If I had to describe this group as an untapped position, I would describe it as a whole. You see the traits in the players to be successful, but They haven’t been able to put it all together for one reason or another. Charlotte has two guys on the team that I feel can be significant contributors in the future. Nick Smith and Bryce McGowens are two individuals who have the tools to be critical contributors but haven’t been able to showcase them.
With the departure of Terry Rozier and James Bouknight and the addition of veteran Seth Curry, the shooting guard position of the Charlotte Hornets is undergoing significant changes. This summer holds immense importance for the team, as the continued growth and development of the young players will be a crucial factor in determining their success in the upcoming season.
Shooting Guard: Nick Smith Jr.
Nick Smith Jr. was drafted in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft. He was a guy that people felt had top-10 talent, but the injuries in his lone season at Arkansas did him in. Would another year in school did him justice? Probably. But in the climate of the NBA, Coming out when you’re not fully ready and going through the development on the professional team is the thing now.
Pros
Despite not playing much in his rookie season (14.3 MPG), there were some things to be excited about. He shot 43% from the 3-point range. Smith Jr. also showcased his combo guard skills, playing 39% of the time in the point guard position.
Cons
One of the negatives of Smith Jr. in college was his inability to finish at the rim. From 0-3 feet, Smith Jr. shot an abysmal 38% from that range. He was also a below-average shooter overall, with 39% shooting. Despite playing a lot at the point guard position for the Hornets, Smith Jr. didn’t showcase the playmaking ability needed (1.2 APG).
Grade: C-
Shooting Guard: Bryce McGowens
Selected with the 40th pick in the 2022 NBA draft, Bryce McGowens was seen as a solid developmental prospect. In his lone season in Nebraska, McGowens averaged 16.8 points and 5.2 rebounds but only shot 40% from the floor and 27% from the three. With all the moving parts this season, McGowens played in 59 games (14 starts) and had a pretty solid season.
Pros
Despite being a 43% shooter, McGowens was a terrific two-point shooter. He shot 57% from 0-3 feet, 48% from 3-10 feet, and 57% from 10-16 feet. In his 14 starts, McGowen was a much better shooter as his usage increased. He averaged 9.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 46/35/78% shooting.
Cons
McGowens was a below-average three-point shooter (33%), which aligns with his below-average three-point shooter in college (27%). Like all the Hornets players, His defensive rating was laughable but significant on the floor. His 119.5 defensive rating on the floor is better than his 120.8 rating when he’s not. I also would like for him to be a better rebounder than he is at his size (1.7 RPG).
Grade: C-
Seth Curry
Acquired in the P.J. Washington trade, Seth Curry didn’t play a lot due to injuries. He is a dependable veteran who has brought his elite three-point shooting to stops such as Portland, Dallas, and Brooklyn; Seth saw his continued downward spiral as an efficient three-point shooter.
Pros
Sometimes, being a professional basketball player isn’t what you do on the court; it’s the impact you have when you’re not on the floor. Seth Curry is one of the ultimate professionals you’ll ever meet in the NBA. He is a guy who can lend tricks and pointers to some of these young guys so that they can be long-serving veterans in this league.
Cons
Injuries limited Curry to only eight games for the Hornets. His most vital asset is slowly becoming his weakest. For seven straight years, Seth Curry was a 40%+ three-point shooter. This season, He shot 36% in Dallas, which is still right around the league average, But he shot 32% in his eight games in Charlotte.
Grade: INC due to not having enough games played to be considered.
James Bouknight (Waived)
Bouknight, the former 11th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, couldn’t stay out of his way. The talent was there with his high selection, but the continuous trouble he stayed in Charlotte killed any momentum. Bouknight shot 43% from the field in his fourteen games and 43% from the three in just 5 minutes. His per 36 has him averaging 22.2 points! His situation is quite unfortunate, and I hope he takes this time to prepare himself to be a professional athlete mentally.
Grade: INC
Terry Rozier (Traded To Miami)
In his 4 1/2 seasons in Charlotte, Terry Rozier was a bucket! Rozier left the Hornets with an average of 20.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists on 43/37/83% shooting. He is the 4th all-time scorer in Charlotte Hornets’ history and 9th all-time in assists. To say that Rozier’s impact on the team wasn’t felt statistically would be a false narrative. The problem was the Hornets couldn’t win. They were 117-181 during his tenure, with just a play-in game to show for it.
Pros
In the 30 games Rozier played, He was a bucket! He averaged 23.5 points on 45/35/84% shooting. Rozier was also an excellent playmaker, averaging 6.7 assists with just 2.2 turnovers. He also made handling the ball around him a bit tough with his 1.1 steals average. In the grand scheme of things, Rozier was a perfect compliment but never seen as being “the guy.”
Cons
Rozier was probably the most consistent night in and night out of all the Hornets players. I would’ve liked to see the Rozier in Miami in Charlotte defensively. The Heat pride themselves on defense and have the personnel that prides themselves on that end. Steve Clifford was that defensive guy for Charlotte, but the team put together wasn’t equipped to be an excellent defensive team. During his time in Charlotte, Opponents averaged 124.7 points with Rozier on the floor compared to 119.0 off. Overall, I can’t say anything terrible about Rozier. He went out there and competed.
Grade: B
Overall Grade: C-
The talent is there for the guys currently in Charlotte to be good. I genuinely believe they have the guys there to be successful. To be great, you must be willing to go to that place of unfamiliarity and struggle through it. The new GM, Jeff Peterson, and whoever the next coach is for the Hornets must realize that players only get better when you show them tough love. Let these guys showcase their true abilities and flourish.
West Coast Hoops 