Hornets fans anxious to see rookie center Mark Williams are getting their chance with Nick Richards still considered day-to-day due to a right ankle sprain, writes Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer.
After playing just 13 minutes in three games prior to this week, Williams logged a total of 34 minutes on Monday and Tuesday and acquitted himself well, registering 15 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and a pair of blocks. He also had a positive net rating in both games despite the fact that the Hornets lost by 11 and five points, respectively.
“He was impressive,” Hornets head coach Steve Clifford said after Monday’s loss. “The way he handled himself, his poise on the court, his basket protection, we were very organized when we were on the floor. He did a good job in his pick-and-roll coverage and I thought he did a really, really, good job.”
As Williams makes a bid for a larger role in Charlotte, here’s more from around the Southeast:
- Although Marc Stein reported earlier in the week that Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma is considered increasingly likely to be available at this season’s deadline, not everyone is hearing the same thing. One league source who spoke to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype said that the Wizards internally consider Kuzma to be a “big part of the future.”
- After winning in Sacramento on Friday and vs. Philadelphia on Tuesday, the Wizards are now 5-1 this season when Delon Wright is active. Head coach Wes Unseld Jr. suggested after Tuesday’s victory that the team’s success when Wright plays isn’t merely coincidental, per Josh Robbins of The Athletic. “His impact was immediate, even just picking up (opposing ballhandlers), pestering (them),” Unseld said. “You know, it’s tough when you’ve got minute restrictions, for good reason, but he does a lot of good things out there, and some of them that don’t fall into the box score. But there’s a presence, and I think guys (on the other team) are kind of looking over their shoulder because they know he has a defensive feel to him.”
- Heat center Orlando Robinson is making a strong impression on the team with his recent performances, including a 15-point, nine-rebound showing against Minnesota on Monday, but he can only be active for 27 more games due to the limitations of his two-way contract, observes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Robinson’s recent play prompts Chiang to wonder if the big man is emerging as the frontrunner to take Miami’s 15th standard roster spot later in the season once signing a player will no longer put the team’s salary into the tax.
Didn’t Kuzma himself say he was entering free agency in the offseason? If so, how can the team consider him to be a big part of the future?
After he declines his option for next year – 13 million – he enters free agency, right?
If the Wizards really think he’s a big part of their future, maybe that means they’ll offer him the kind of money he’s looking for in a new multiyear contract.
Mark Williams definitely needs to be a bigger part of the regular rotation for the Hornets. With all due respect to Mason Plumlee, he is not part of the future of that franchise.
Hornets have little reason to play Jones, or Richards in favor of developing Williams for next season, and after. Get off the playoff fence Charlotte, and join the Wembanyama race already!
If Kuzma is a big part of your future your not going anywhere anytime soon.
Enjoy the 12th seed in the east, missing the playoffs and play in tournament again. You guys basically have the same record as the Magic who are rebuilding and trying to lose games.
But nah yeah pay the 27 year old no defence inefficient shooter egotistical diva that 25mil a season. Worked out so well when you paid Davis Bertans after he had 1 good season.
You’re right, he’s not worth 25 million.
But Tobias Harris makes almost 40 million!
Hahaha….really, really good agent there.
Yeah that’s true, I remember at the time with the Tobias deal it was him and Kris Middleton in FA and both guys were compared to each other. Both the same amount of experience, the points per game, rebounds and assists were all similar. Even the shooting percentages are similar. Both deals were given on potential and projections and obviously Kris developed into a very very good defender and has since been a 3 time all star and Tobias hasn’t really improved and hasn’t won a championship like Kris either.
Whereas if counter and say Kuzma in terms of negotiation should be on par with John Collins in and around there. Collins signed his deal in his early 20’s as someone putting up 20-10 regularly while shooting close to 40% from 3. I think everyone questioned the ceiling but at 20-25 mil it looked a good deal for both sides.
Kuzma is 27 already, he’s currently in the best season he’s every had statistically on a team that sucks. He’s never shoot efficiently or played a good level of defence for long enough you’d say he’s a good defender. He’s clearly got the big ego and stuff. Particularly if your the wizards after Bertans had 1 good season and cashed in with you, you hold some doubt.
Idk I think 15-20mil around that Harrison Barnes type money is what Kuzmas market should be. He definitely shouldn’t be considered a big part of your future after 1 season and average basketball
Is it me or has Charlotte been drafting the same player now for the past 4 years ??
The Wizards really need to sell high here. Draft picks, defensive help, anything other than giving Kuzma stupid-money and trying to get out from under it for 2 years. Of course the draft picks might be wasted given the track record of the front office.