Prefer to listen? Check out our Locked On Hornets’ SG preview.
As part of my ongoing position preview series, today, we focus on the shooting guard position for the Charlotte Hornets. While Brandon Miller could eventually grow into a full-time two-guard, the real question going into the season is whether Josh Green can take on the role effectively from day one.
Josh Green’s Fit with the Hornets
Josh Green, acquired from the Dallas Mavericks, brings intrigue but also raises some important concerns. Green was a key role player for Dallas, a team that reached the Western Conference Finals a couple of years ago. His role in Dallas was small but impactful—he posted a 13% usage rate, rarely having the ball in his hands. That type of usage is likely to continue here in Charlotte, as LaMelo Ball will dominate possession when healthy.
Green’s strengths are clear: rim pressure, defensive effort, and efficient three-point shooting, particularly from the corners. His ability to finish at the rim and knock down corner threes on low volume is exactly what this team needs, especially when paired alongside LaMelo. If Green can maintain those strengths, he’s a perfect fit. He doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective, and his defensive intensity should give the Hornets a reliable backcourt stopper.
But there’s a flip side to this. As I mentioned on the pod, there’s a legitimate fear that Green might want more than just the role he played in Dallas. Players often come to new teams looking for expanded opportunities, which doesn’t always work out. If Green tries to do too much, stepping outside of what made him successful in Dallas, it could be a headache for the coaching staff. My big concern is that he has a desire to become a high-usage player who doesn’t quite have the skill set to match.
A Scouting Report From Nick Angstadt of Locked On Mavericks
Josh is an athletic wing/guard that wants so badly to be a 3&D player but just comes up short a little here and there at this point.
His defense is erratic and he’s not as good at navigating screens as you’d think for someone as fast and agile as he is and he’ll try dang hard and hustle and do little things.
Dallas worked A LOT on his 3P shot and so did Kyle Lowry a few summers ago in Vegas where they’ve worked out together.
There was a moment in the 2022 Playoffs in RD1 where DAL was playing 5-out and Gobert was guarding him but from the paint. Green got the ball in the corner and dribbled IN A CIRCLE (I’ll never forget it). Kidd pulled him for good after that. He’s become SO much more confident since then and was reliable as a shooter but not at high volumes.
Where he’ll surprise you is his passing. He’s an amazing passer. At times with the Mavs he was their 2nd best on the team. He’ll throw a jump pass that will make you go no no no YES at least once a game.
Depth Concerns: Cody Martin and Beyond
After Josh Green, the depth chart gets thin quickly. Cody Martin, when healthy, has been a solid option in past seasons, but health has been a major question mark. The Hornets gave him a fair deal, paying him $8 million per year, but every time they’ve tried to ramp him up, he’s hit a setback. I’m not counting on a full season from Cody at this point and neither should you.
If Green or Martin miss time, then the Hornets will have to turn to undersized players like Nick Smith Jr. or Tre Mann. These guys bring some offensive upside, but you’re making some minor to major trade-offs defensively. There’s just not a lot of firepower at this position. You can almost feel the pressure building, knowing that one injury could force the Hornets to rethink their entire strategy at the two.
Conclusion: Is the Shooting Guard Position “Stangin’” or “Clangin’”?
Right now, this position group feels like it’s teetering on the edge. Green fits well alongside LaMelo, but we don’t know if he can maintain that low-usage, high-efficiency role over more minutes. Cody Martin’s health is a huge wildcard, and the depth behind them is shaky at best. If everything goes right, this group could be “Stangin’,” but it’s hard to ignore the potential for it to go “Clangin’” REAL quick.
We’ll need to see how it plays out, but one thing is clear: the Hornets are betting a lot on Josh Green to be the defensive stopper and low-maintenance offensive piece that he was in Dallas.
What do you think? Leave me a comment below.