TL;DR
- Charlotte Hornets rebuilding with new draft picks Kon Knueppel, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Sion James.
- Key players LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Miles Bridges add to a promising lineup.
- Frank Kaminsky's NBA career with the Hornets did not meet expectations.
- Kaminsky may sign with Alvark Tokyo in Japan's B. League, seeking another NBA chance.
Over the last few seasons, the Charlotte Hornets have focused on rebuilding their team. Even though their current win-loss record isn't stellar, there's a palpable sense of hope within the organization. The recent NBA Draft brought in new talent like Kon Knueppel, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Sion James, adding much-needed depth and adaptability. Combined with the existing key players such as LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Miles Bridges, Charlotte boasts a lineup that looks more promising than it has in quite some time.
The Hornets haven't consistently excelled at player development, though. A prime instance is Frank Kaminsky, chosen ninth overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. Despite a distinguished college career at Wisconsin, his NBA performance never quite lived up to the hype.
Kaminsky's career stats included 8.8 points, 3.8 boards, and 1.6 assists; he played four seasons for The Hornets before a three-year stint with Phoenix. He also briefly played for Atlanta and Houston, with each tenure under half a season. Following his last NBA game in the 2022-23 season, Kaminsky played internationally in Europe and China, and most recently joined the G League's Toronto Raptors affiliate.
With Toronto, Kaminsky posted 13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
He now seems poised for another international venture. According to According to BasketNews, Kaminsky is close to signing with Alvark Tokyo in Japan's B. League. This league has increasingly attracted ex-NBA players, such as Jahlil Okafor, a former third overall selection, and Yuta Watanabe, a seasoned forward.
Kaminsky, at 32 years old, still harbors optimism that a successful performance in Japan might open the door for another NBA opportunity.
More NBA news:
- Lakers sign Gonzaga’s all-time leading scorer
- Former first-round pick Aleksej Pokusevski reflects on NBA journey and possible return
- Miles Bridges on Kon Knueppel: 'He’s been our best player this year'
- Marcus Smart says playing with LeBron James 'feels different' after years as rivals