The Hornets’ 11th pick James Bouknight looked very good in the summer league. He is a crafty finisher and a great shot creator. He led the Hornets with an average of 16.8 points per game, playing in 4 out of the 5 games. I believe being in the backcourt with LaMelo Ball will truly unlock his potential and I can’t wait to see it.

Kai Jones who we traded up to get in the first round seems like he can be someone who we can rely on as a very solid future starting center. He is a freak athlete and wowed a lot of people with his powerful dunks. However, he needs to learn to slow down and pass the ball on fast breaks. He had many reckless turnovers and unnecessary shot attempts. Once he works on his decision-making he will become a more reliable player. Jones did show promise as a consistent rebounder leading the Hornets with 9.4 rebounds per game.

Our second-round picks J.T. Thor and Scottie Lewis were very solid in their respective areas. Thor showed excellent shooting ability from three-point and mid-range and he rebounded very well. Lewis is a dog defensively and led the Hornets in blocks with 1.8 per game. He also got more consistent offensively as the games progressed.

Of course, I cannot forget the fan-favorite LiAngelo Ball who legitimately looked like an NBA-ready player. He has a beautiful stroke from deep, but that is not all he has to offer. In only 17 minutes per game, Ball averaged 9.6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. I really hope Ball gets signed to a two-way contract. I’d love to see him play more in the purple and teal.

Sadly for us Hornets fans we will have to wait until October the 4th for more Hornets basketball – when we meet OKC Thunder in our first pre-season game at the Paycom Center.