5 reasons the Charlotte Hornets will be a top 5 team in the East

3. Frank Kaminsky

Kaminsky was very up and down in his rookie season with the Hornets. Despite the inconsistencies, we saw enough from Kaminsky to know he’ll be a good offensive player in the NBA. His long-range shot, his ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket, and his post-up game make for a potent offensive player. However, his development on the defensive end will ultimately dictate his future and his impact this season.

Kaminsky has worked on improving his strength this offseason, which will allow him to play more minutes at center and will help him defensively, particularly in the paint. He doesn’t have to be Dwight Howard, but if Kaminsky can be serviceable on defense, Clifford will be able to play him for significant minutes at center. This will benefit both Kaminsky’s and the team’s overall offense.

Kaminsky’s size and skill present a unique challenge. If the opposing team defends him by going small, he can take advantage by posting up, as we saw in the playoff series against Miami last season. If the opposing team goes big to try to keep him out of the paint, it’ll give him more opportunities to spread the floor.

The Hornets, and in particular Clifford, have made it clear they see Kaminsky as a center long-term. Playing at center allows Kaminsky to maximize his game on the offensive end and it prevents him from having to chase power forwards out to the 3-point line. At the end of the day, Clifford won’t play Kasminsky at center if he can’t hold his own defensively. It seems like Kaminsky has been focused on the right things over the offseason and we should expect to see his role expand.