The Charlotte Hornets find themselves in quite the downtrodden position heading into the 2019-20 NBA season. The team lost franchise point guard Kemba Walker in free agency, and second-leading scorer Jeremy Lamb signed a deal with the Indiana Pacers.
To make matters worse, the Hornets owe over $85 million combined to Nicolas Batum, Bismack Biyombo, Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and they filled the limited cap space that they had by signing former Boston Celtics point guard Terry Rozier.
After battling for a playoff spot for years, the Hornets are likely to be bottom-dwellers in the standings this season. Contrary to prior offseasons, however, Charlotte probably made the right selection in drafting former Kentucky standout P.J. Washington with the No. 12 pick.
Washington showed tremendous two-way potential while at Kentucky, and made significant improvements from his freshman season to sophomore year. Washington was the best player on a team that saw three players drafted in the first round, and should get a chance to make an immediate impact for a Charlotte team that is officially in “rebuild” mode.
Here are three bold predictions for P.J. Washington in his rookie season with the Hornets:
3. Earning the starting role out of camp
Given that the Hornets are paying the aforementioned players so much money, one would assume that each of them would at least see significant minutes, if not starting roles. Yet, that notion does not hold water.
Kidd-Gilchrist was a frequent candidate for “DNP–Coach's decision.” Biyombo played in just 54 games and played less than 15 minutes per game during those contests. Zeller was also very susceptible to injury.
All of these factors–in addition to the fact that the Hornets need to develop their young players in a hurry–makes it more likely that Washington will have the opportunity to start right away.
He is somewhat undersized for a power forward (6'8,” 228 pounds) but Washington has the kind of athleticism and footwork that should give him the advantage over some of his teammates in proving himself worthy of getting crucial minutes.
The Hornets also need a dependable screener to compliment Rozier, and Washington is most certainly that guy.
2. Leading scorer
What happens when your two top scorers are gone, and the only other guys that averaged double figures barely scored more than 10 points per game? There is a massive offensive void to be filled.
PJ Washington might be Charlotte's most reliable offensive option. He can score in the post using his agility and footwork. He can face up and knock down jumpers, and last year he actually shot over 42 percent from beyond the arc on 2.2 attempts per game, a pretty respectable clip for a big man.
Again, Rozier's strength is working in pick-and-roll. Running that kind of offense with Al Horford is what made him so successful in the 2017 playoffs as a member of the Celtics. When he was knocking own threes at an efficient rate, Rozier could drive and dish or utilize Horford's own midrange game.
Washington is even more athletic than Horford, and he is just as effective as a jump shooter and a screener. He is going to force a lot of opposing forwards to come out and guard him at the key, then can break them down off the dribble.
Of course, fellow youngsters like Malik Monk, Miles Bridges and Rozier are all likely to see their volume of shots increase tremendously. But Washington is probably the most efficient and well-versed option that the Hornets have, and he is also very effective on the offensive glass.
With the Hornets struggling to put up points, Washington may emerge as the primary offensive option.
1. All-Rookie First Team
There are only two forward spots on the All-NBA teams. And with No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson more than likely occupying one of the two, that means plenty of rookie forwards will battle it out to land on the First Team.
So Washington will have to stand out among a crowd that might include De'Andre Hunter, Jarrett Culver, Rui Hachimura, Cam Reddish and others. But of all those players, he might have the most immediate and tangible impact on his team, and will earn All-Rookie First Team honors.
Not only does Washington score and rebound, but he became a much better defender while at Kentucky. In his freshman season, he registered a defensive rating of 101.0 per 100 possessions. Last year, that number improved to 93.9 as Washington also saw an increased number of block shots.
His athleticism potential as a help defender makes him an excellent candidate to rack up blocks. When you pair that kind of defensive prowess with the idea that he could lead the Hornets in scoring, he has to be on the All-Rookie First Team, and may even be a Rookie of the Year finalist.
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