CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The signing of free agent Tyler Hansbrough addresses some of the deficiencies in the Hornets lineup. Although the Hornets already have a solid core of big men, Hansbrough brings a toughness and intensity that Charlotte’s roster lacked.
Starter Big Al Jefferson is an offensive post specialist, but lacks the athleticism of his counterpart, Cody Zeller. However, Zeller is still trying to find his true role in the NBA, as he is pretty good at a lot aspects of the game, but has yet to find his specialty. Hansbrough knows his role. He is a bruising rebounder who brings brawn into the post at both ends of the court.
Despite having a clearly defined role, it is uncertain how many minutes of playing time he will get in the upcoming season, as he is brings a minimal offensive game and Charlotte was one of the league’s worst scoring teams last season. Rookie Frank Kaminsky is expected to trade minutes with Zeller at the 4 position with the purpose of stretching the floor with his 3-point range, which should compliment Big Al’s low post prowess.
But where does Spencer Hawes work into the mix? Or Marvin Williams? Both big men are primarily outside shooters and have similar skill sets to Frank Kaminsky, but with less upside. Hansbrough played the center position in Toronto, but his production was minimal, especially on the offensive end of the floor. His offensive post play has diminished against the NBA’s top-notch post defenders who usually have a height advantage. He has the muscle to stand his own defensively against most NBA centers, but he still gives up a few inches with his 6’9 frame.
If Kaminsky puts on some muscle, the 7-footer could play some minutes at the center position, but he has a ways to go before being able to defend the average NBA center. This begs the question: who is Charlotte’s backup center? At 7’1, Hawes has the build to contest any NBA center’s hook shot, but he isn’t known as a rim protector and he would likely struggle offensively if moved primarily to the low block.
And then there’s Jason Maxiell. Hansbrough is comparable to Maxiell with similar height and muscle, but Hansbrough can run the floor better and jump higher. Neither have desirable height to play the center position, but both are above-average rebounders for their height with their strong box outs. Maxiell is likely to only see garbage-time minutes, so would the same go for Hansbrough?
I see Hansbrough as a special-case player who can bring intensity and energy to the Hornets against the more athletic NBA teams. He is a scrapper with a reputation of being a hard-worker and he lives and breathes basketball. Hansbrough is a wrecking ball when diving for loose balls and he has the ability to amp up his teammates with his tenacious play.
As for determining the Hornets’ backup center, it may take someone to step up and prove that he can handle the low post on defense. Hansbrough has experience playing the center position and I could see him paired well on the backup squad with Spencer Hawes, who has the height and shooting range to patch Hansbrough’s flaws.
Although he may not see an abundance of playing time from the start, it is a good move for the Hornets to bring back a hometown favorite whose forte is exactly what the team needs.
