The Hornets are batting .500 on two-way contract players.
The Charlotte Hornets are underachieving this year, standing 10th in the NBA’s Eastern Conference (as of February 15). Worse yet, the team can’t make significant trades–like the Cavs just did–to upgrade its roster. That’s because contract specs with various players don’t give Charlotte much flexibility in the trade market.
The only real option for improvement is to get mileage out of the team’s two-way contract players.
A two-way contract is an agreement between a team and player that allows a player to spend a maximum of 35 games with an NBA team and the rest of their season with that team’s G-League affiliate.
Charlotte’s two-way players are Mangok Mathiang and Marcus Paige. Both players signed two-way contracts before the 2017-2018 season, which means they have had time to learn the team’s offensive and defensive system. That background helps players make the transition from G-League to NBA.
So how are these players doing? Let’s take a look.
Mangok Mathiang
Background: Mathiang, a 6’ 10” center out Louisville, averaged 7.8 points, 6 rebounds, and shot 53% from the field during his final season with the Cardinals. Undrafted in 2017, he was signed by the Hornets and then put up solid numbers in the Summer League. Impressed by that performance, Charlotte signed Mathiang to a two-way contract and assigned him to its G-League team, the Greensboro Swarm, where he’s averaging 11 points and 5.6 rebounds a game.
Courtesy: YouTube
Assessment: I predict that the Hornets will probably regret signing Mathiang to a two-way contract. He has not shown the ability to shoot from three in either college or the G-League (0% shooting percentage in 30 games). Mathiang isn’t an impressive rebounder, either. He’s averaging fewer than 6 rebounds in the G-League. At 25 years old, it may be too late for him to develop into the player the Hornets need. Besides, Charlotte has more capable bench centers in Johnny O’Bryant and Frank Kaminsky.
Conclusion: I think the Hornets should cut-off Mathiang’s two-way contract. The team needs a 3-and-D power forward, that is, a player who can shoot from distance and also plays aggressive defense.
Marcus Paige
Background: Paige, a 6’ 1” point guard from North Carolina, averaged 13.3 points, 4.3 assists, and shot 35% from three in four years with the Tar Heels. While he had some hype going into the 2016 NBA Draft, he didn’t go until the 55th selection. Since then Paige has bounced from team to team, playing on different Summer League and G-League teams. But UNC fans were ecstatic when the Hornets signed him to a two-way contract. Paige was coming home.
Courtesy: Scout.com
Assessment: Charlotte needs Paige, too, because the team is struggling at backup point guard. The current backup, Michael Carter-Williams, has been terrible this year. The backup position was Paige’s job to lose. And if his G-League performance is an indication of NBA potential, then Paige may be the man for the job. He’s currently averaging 14.2 points, 1.4 steals, and 4 assists a game.
Conclusion: The Hornets have an open roster spot. I think it would make some sense to sign Paige to a roster contract. He could be the backup point guard Charlotte needs.
My take is that the Hornets are batting .500 on their two-way contract players. Release Mathiang. Sign Paige.
