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Charlotte Hornets: Re-Signing Mo Williams As Backup PG Is The Safe Move

By Andrew C. Fisher

Mar 9, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Mo Williams (7) reacts during a time out during the first half of the game against the Washington Wizards at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Mo Williams (7) reacts during a time out during the first half of the game against the Washington Wizards at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mo Williams has hit the point of being worthy of the label “journeyman” NBA point guard. In total, he’s played for seven different teams. After 12 seasons and one-half of a successful year with the Charlotte Hornets, there’s more than a puncher’s chance that Williams could join his eighth different team in the offseason.

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It’s definitely debatable as to whether the Hornets will bring Williams back next season on a one-year deal. Although he’ll probably play a few more seasons, it seems unlikely at this point that he’ll stay in Charlotte long-term.

However, he could be a solid and affordable short-term option.

The main argument against keeping Williams as a backup is his age. At 32 going on 33, he’s only able to play limited minutes.

According to the Charlotte Observer, the veteran point guard told coach Steve Clifford he was able to play a maximum of only 26-28 minutes per game this past season.

"Williams told Clifford in mid-March he couldn’t handle more than 26-28 minutes per game. He looked worn down late in the season and he suffered through a shooting slump. You have to accept the compromise with Williams that he is an older player and not a particularly good defender."

Williams has mostly been a starter throughout his career (511 out of 777 games). But at this point it seems clear he needs to switch roles to backup/spot starter for good.

Back in 2011-12 when he was with the Los Angeles Clippers he played a bench role to the tune of 13.2 points in 28 minutes per contest. It’s certainly not out of the question to think he could get in the ballpark of those numbers next season for Charlotte.

Alternatively, the Hornets could decide to go with youth at the backup point guard position. There’s definitely a case to be made for taking one in the second round of the upcoming NBA Draft.

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Five players signed past their prime in the second Hornets era
Five players signed past their prime in the second Hornets era /

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    • Gary Parrish of CBS Sports has Andrew Harrison out of Kentucky mocked to the Hornets at No. 39.

    Harrison, famous for having a twin (Aaron) on the same team and for using racial slur to describe Frank Kaminsky, is only 20 years old with lots of upside. At 6-foot-5 and 200-plus pounds with the ability to play both guard positions, he makes for an intriguing selection in round two.

    But when you go with a rookie, particularly one with character flags like Harrison, you really don’t know what you’re going to get. With a veteran like Williams, you know exactly what you’re going to get (barring serious injury, which can happen to any player).

    For a team with so many youngsters, it may be the smart call to stick with a steady veteran at the backup point guard spot. Although Williams slowed down during the stretch run this season, he showed that he can still be a solid contributor. He’s no longer capable of playing starter minutes, but nor should he be with 23,000-plus minutes on his legs.

    If the Hornets feel that Mo Williams can be there for them down the stretch next season, it’s hard to say it’d be a bad move to bring him back for one more season. They would just have to hope that Kemba Walker stays healthy so the aging point guard isn’t called into action for a larger slice of the pie that he can’t handle.

    Next: Hornets End-of-Year Awards

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