One of the biggest surprises in the early part of the 2021-22 NBA season has been the play of the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets came into the season hoping they would take that next step and thus far they have accomplished that feat.
They have a record of 5-2, overcoming a 23-point deficit on opening night against the Indiana Pacers to get the season started on the right foot. They also have an impressive victory over the Brooklyn Nets on the road to their credit.
What makes the start even more impressive is that they have done a majority of it without Terry Rozier. Rozier has played in only two games thus far this season as he was dealing with an ankle sprain.
Without him, the Hornets have had numerous players step up in his absence. LaMelo Ball has continued his ascent toward stardom and Kelly Oubre Jr. has proven to be a solid pickup on the wing. The biggest improvement has come from Miles Bridges.
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Bridges and the Hornets were unable to agree on an extension before the season, making him a restricted free agent come next offseason. Now, it looks like Bridges will be more expensive to retain as he is off to an excellent start.
He is putting up 24.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 steals with only 1.9 turnovers in 35.4 minutes per game. It is an incredible breakout season, but it is coming at the expense of PJ Washington.
Washington has started the season slowly as he works his way back from a knee sprain. After starting 118 out of the first 122 games of his NBA career, he is now coming off the bench and will be for the foreseeable future with Bridges playing so well.
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That is part of the reason Bleacher Report believes Washington could be a surprise trade candidate at the deadline. If he is beginning to fall out of favor with the organization, it might be worthwhile to trade him as he is going to get very expensive to retain soon.
At 23-years old, Washington has plenty of room to continue growing. He is already a solid floor-spacing big man that was coming into his own as a defender as well. That is something plenty of teams would find attractive should he become the odd man out in Charlotte.
With rookies Kai Jones and JT Thor waiting in the wings, along with other youngsters Vernon Carey Jr. and Nick Richards, the Charlotte Hornets have plenty of depth in the frontcourt should they look to move on from PJ Washington before this year’s trade deadline.
