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Hornets Making Smart Move By Moving from Kaminsky, Adding Dorn

By Joseph Ochoa

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 06: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket against Frank Kaminsky #44 of the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on March 06, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 06: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket against Frank Kaminsky #44 of the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on March 06, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Kaminsky could be leaving Charlotte

As reported by Rod Boone of The Athletic, Charlotte Hornets appear to be moving on from former Wisconsin forward Frank Kaminsky, as he believes that Kaminsky is not likely to receive a qualifying offer from the Hornets, adding him to the list of unrestricted free agents this off-season.

In addition to the expected departure of Kaminsky, the Hornets have signed Torin Dorn to a temporary  contract and will play with the team until the conclusion of the NBA Summer League.

Should Dorn make an impact during Summer League, it would provide an opportunity to make his way onto the roster for training camp.

Kaminsky would be better served somewhere else

In a draft that had Justise Winslow, Myles Turner and Devin Booker available to them, the Hornets took Kaminsky with the ninth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Ever since then, Kaminsky has struggled to be a consistent player for the Hornets.

In his four years in the league, Kaminsky has ranged from a solid player to a potential bust. While Kaminsky did average over 11 points per game twice, it was book ended by seasons where he averaged less than nine points per game.

I’m also of the mindset that your forwards need to be able to rebound in some capacity to provide value if they lack a serious offensive game, and Kaminsky is severely lacking in that department.

During his four year stint with the Hornets, Kaminsky was a below average board-man. Kaminsky never averaged more than five rebounds per game during his career, and in terms of health, he has only played a full season once in his whole career, and only played 47 games this past season.

To to be fair to Frank, the team has a loaded front court, with Nicolas Batum, Marvin Williams, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Miles Bridges ahead of him on the depth chart, and with rookie Kentucky forward P.J. Washington now on the roster, it makes sense for the Hornets to move on from Kaminsky.

Kaminsky Leaving Could Open the Door for Dorn, If He Continues His Improvement

Dorn could be a hidden gem from this group of undrafted rookie free agents, and now he will have the opportunity to continue his development in the summer league.

Dorn, following his transfer from UNC-Charlotte in 2015, began playing for the Wolfpack in 2016-2017 and improved his points per game every season, going from  9.5 points per game his first season to 14 points per game his final season.

One thing that Dorn will need to work on once he gets to the league is his shooting from the free throw line. During his final season, Dorn was abysmal from the free throw line, barely hitting more than 50 percent of his shots.

As a guard, that kind of shooting from the free throw line won’t cut it in the NBA, but if he can show that level of improvement in the summer league, it could open the door for a roster spot for training camp with the team.

Just The Start of the Off-Season for the Hornets

With these potential moves, the Hornets are officially on the radar for being sellers during this free agency period to start the new league year.

If the Hornets do eventually move away from Kemba Walker, it would signal what most of us thought the Hornets would do: Tear it all down and start from scratch in a “Trust the Process” type manner.

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