Charlotte Hornets rookie PJ Washington is unlikely to play in the 2019 NBA Las Vegas Summer League.

According to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer, Washington will be ruled out of the Summer League in Las Vegas due to a sore left foot. The former Kentucky standout was expected to play a lot this summer to prove why the Hornets used the 12th overall pick on him despite having available big names on the board.

The Hornets do not think the injury is serious because they have ruled out a surgery to treat his ailing foot. However, Charlotte is taking a cautious approach because it was the same foot Washington injured during his stint with the Kentucky Wildcats last season.

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The Hornets are high on Washington, who is expected to have big responsibilities in his rookie season. Charlotte lost Kemba Walker, its leading scorer last season, to the Boston Celtics in free agency. Jeremy Lamb, Charlotte's second-leading scorer, is reportedly signing with the Indiana Pacers.

With Walker and Lamb out of Charlotte, Washington has a chance to lead the team in scoring next season, per Mike Chiari of Bleacher Report. Chiari thinks that is the exact reason why the Hornets are very cautious on Washington. They want to make sure that he will be fully healthy in time for the 2019-20 NBA season.