The power forward position for the 2023-24 Charlotte Hornets was a mixed bag. However, Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges stood out amidst this, delivering significant production to that position despite playing out of position. Their achievements were a highlight, showcasing their impact on the team’s performance. On the other hand, the players who typically filled the position struggled to meet expectations. P.J. Washington was a reliable contributor until his trade, and Grant Williams injected positive energy into the team.
What’s the key to success for teams still in contention for the NBA championship? It’s having a solid power forward who plays to their strengths. Jalen Williams, Aaron Gordon, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Pascal Siakam are power forwards who significantly impact the game. So, the crucial question is: have the Charlotte Hornets found that natural power forward to build around, or are they facing another season of patching a position of need?
J.T. Thor
J.T. Thor, one of the longest-serving Hornets, is still seen by many as a player with untapped potential. Drafted with the 37th pick in the 2021 NBA draft, Thor’s numbers in his one season at Auburn (9.4 points & 5.0 rebounds) were not particularly impressive. Thor has averaged 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in his three seasons with the team in 12.2 minutes.
Pros
If there were one thing that hampered any momentum that Charlotte was trying to build during the season, it would be the relentless wave of injuries. Despite that, Thor was 4th on the team in games with 63, a testament to his resilience and commitment to the team. Thor’s availability made him a versatile piece of Steve Cliffords’ rotation. He played 28% of the time at the center, 64% of the time at power forward, 7% at small forward, and briefly as a shooting guard. Thor also improved his three-point shot from 25% in his rookie season to 34% this year. He also impacted the defender, as the team’s offensive rating dropped eight points when he wasn’t on the court (114.0 vs. 122.1).
Cons
Thor couldn’t take advantage of the minutes that were available to him. He saw a decrease in his minutes this season compared to last year (14.0 to 12.4). Despite his increase in three-point shooting, Thor was a below-average shooter across the board. He shot an abysmal 20% from 3-10 feet.
Grade: D
Grant Williams (Acquired from the Dallas Mavericks).
Acquired in the P.J. Washington trade with the Dallas Mavericks, Williams immediately began to show an impact on the Hornets team defensively. Dallas brought him in to be that 3&D player to compliment Luka & Kyrie, but it never materialized the way Dallas envisioned. Williams saw a significant increase in his stats once he was traded to the Hornets.
Pros
When championship-level teams have acquired you, your role is edged in stone. You understand that you may not get the shots you feel you deserve, but your strengths are needed to help your team reach that next level. For whatever reason, Williams didn’t work out for Dallas despite playing THE EXACT SAME ROLE HE DID IN BOSTON. Once the trade was made, Williams became an efficient and effective player for the Hornets.
Williams saw his points increase from 8.1 in Dallas to 13.9 in Charlotte. His shooting went from 41% to 50%, rebounding from 3.6 to 5.1, and assists jumped from 1.7 to 3.2. Williams was a 60% shooter from 2-point range, including an incredible 85% from shots 0-3 feet. He was a versatile piece for Steve Clifford as he played 27% of the time at center, 43% at power forward, 29% at small forward, and briefly at shooting guard.
Cons
Grant Williams’s whole demeanor changed once he got to the Hornets. The pressures of being a piece on a championship-quality team can get the best of you. Believe it or not, some guys in the NBA want to hoop. With the Hornets this season, Williams just got to play basketball and didn’t have to worry about nights where he struggled from the floor.
Grade: B+
Davis Bertans (Acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder).
Acquired in the Gordon Hayward trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Davis Bertans got his money and lost the ability to shoot the three. As a member of the Thunder, Bertans was an emergency player in the event of an injury to a critical guy. Bertans got some minutes with the Hornets, and let’s say they didn’t go as planned.
Pros
One of the reasons that Bertans fell out of the rotation in Washington and Dallas was because he lost his ability to be that sharpshooter. He went from being a 40% three-point shooter in his first five seasons to a 31% shooter in 34 games for the Wizards, prompting the team to trade him to Dallas. In the 28 games Bertans played, He was still an elite shooter among the three (37%). Despite shooting 15.4% of his shots from two-point range, Bertans was a 50% shooter from inside the line.
Cons
At 6’10”, I would expect you to be a pretty good rebounder. Bertans averaged just 1.9 rebounds per game, unseen from a big man. Also, I was not too fond of the fact that Bertans averaged 20 minutes per game for the Hornets. Those were minutes that should’ve been given to the young players on the team to develop their skills on the court.
Grade: D
Aleksej Pokusevski
After being waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder, Pokusevski was picked up by the Charlotte Hornets in February of 2024. When drafted in the 2020 draft, Scouts saw him as a guard with big men’s height. His slight frame was a concern, but building his body with the best training staff wouldn’t be a problem. Despite showing flashes of what people scouted him to be, Pokusevski was just the odd man in a numbers game.
Pros
It’s hard to showcase who you are as a player when you’re only playing six minutes per game. When he was getting the minutes, you saw his all-around game developing. Once he got to the Hornets, the numbers went up across the board. The 25% field goal shooting and 18% three-point shooting jumped to 42% field goal shooting and 36% three-point shooting.
Cons
I would like to see him be more aggressive regarding rebounding.
Grade: C-
P.J. Washington (Traded to Dallas).
After signing a three-year/48 million dollar contract extension in the summer, P.J. Washington was considered a vital part of the Charlotte Hornets’ future. He was the starter for the first ten games while Miles Bridges served his suspension and played well. Once Bridges returned from suspension, Washington was relegated to the bench role and saw a decrease in production. I thought he would be a long-term part of the Hornets, but he was shipped to Dallas and has been an integral part of the team’s success and a meme legend.
Pros
Despite all the talk about Miles Bridges and his return after his suspension, Washington was a very serviceable player in his absence. He shot 56% from two-point range, including 71% from 0-3 feet, 43% from 3-10 feet, and 45% from 10-16 feet. The statistics didn’t suggest it, but Washington was an excellent defender on the perimeter.
Cons
The organization would’ve liked him to be a better three-point shooter (32%). I also believe the P.J. Washington you see in Dallas is the P.J. Washington the Hornets wanted to see.
Grade: C
In Conclusion.
The power forward position was very underwhelming for the Charlotte Hornets this season. Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller were effective at the position, but those aren’t natural power forwards. I look forward to seeing Grant Williams play for the Hornets for the whole season. I think his skill set and mentality will benefit this young Hornets team as they continue their development. Besides that, this position should receive much attention this offseason.
Overall Grade: D
West Coast Hoops 