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Charlotte Hornets: Should Frank Kaminsky Be Given The Chance To Start?

By Andrew Kennedy

Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) reacts after a basket against the Duke Blue Devils in the first half in the 2015 NCAA Men
Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) reacts after a basket against the Duke Blue Devils in the first half in the 2015 NCAA Men /
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There will be at least one new face in the Charlotte Hornets‘ starting lineup at the start of the 2015-16 NBA season. Free agent signee Nicolas Batum is that guy. But should another new Hornet be given a chance to start?

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Batum was primarily a small forward during his years with the Portland Trail Blazers but he should be starting at the two in Charlotte, since Michael Kidd-Gilchrist‘s value on the defensive end is simply too much to bring off the bench. That’s a couple of big wings to start alongside Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson, one of which is not a threat to shoot from the outside.

Cody Zeller is the power forward with the most experience starting in the NBA on the roster, but considering the issue of spacing, he might not exactly be the right fit. This year’s lottery pick, Frank Kaminsky, makes more sense.

Everyone knows the direction the NBA is going: lineups featuring more position-less players with the emphasis on interchangeability and more outside shooting. The Golden State Warriors implemented these philosophies perfectly during their championship run. At the four position in particular, a guy like Kaminsky fits nicely with the direction the league is going.

Kaminsky improved as a three-point shooter in each season at Wisconsin. He was particularly efficient as a junior and senior, shooting 37.8 and 41.6 percent respectively while attempting 2.6 triples per game. Kaminsky remained hyper-efficient inside the arc as well, shooting 52.8 and 54.7 percent in his junior and senior years.

The three-point line is deeper in the NBA and it’s harder to score inside, but what Kaminsky showed the last two seasons in college leads you to believe he’ll find a way to be an efficient shooter at the next level as well, and it’s not like he’ll have to carry the burden of trying to be a No. 1 option.

The biggest question with Kaminsky is defense. What better way to hide him than alongside two of the best defenders on the team in MKG and Batum? There’s a case to be made against that — that the value of better defenders can be diminished if Kaminsky is a particular weak interior defender behind them.

But wouldn’t you rather Kaminsky try to make it work alongside better players than be put in a spot where the perimeter defenders in front of him are guys like Jeremy Lin, Brian Roberts and Jeremy Lamb? That could make for a defensive disaster.

Another lesson to take from the defending champion Warriors is that of sacrifice. Maybe Zeller is more proven and will be a better overall player than Kaminsky at the start of the season, but when it comes to fit, Kaminsky makes more sense in the starting lineup.

Otherwise, you’re looking at a starting five in which only Batum and Walker are three-point shooting threats. There are still plenty of minutes to be found with bench guys (or even starting in some games) that coming off the bench shouldn’t be something that kills Zeller’s potential.

Starting a rookie is a hard decision for any coach to make, especially when there is a lot of pressure to win and those wins may not be coming easily. Kaminsky may be uniquely prepared for the role though. He did stay four years at Wisconsin so he understands what his game is and how to make it work at a high level. In the long run, starting Kaminsky should be the right move.

Next: Charlotte Hornets: Grading The Offseason

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