Charlotte Hornets: Complete grades for 2019 NBA offseason
By Phil Watson
Signing Robert Franks
During their Summer League stint in Las Vegas, the Charlotte Hornets signed undrafted rookie Robert Franks to a two-way deal.
Franks was very productive as an undersized 5 at Washington State, averaging 21.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 34.4 minutes per game as a senior, shooting 49.3 percen toverall and a solid 39.9 percent on 7.0 3-point attempts per game.
That earned Franks first team All-Pac-12 honors. He was the No. 1 option on a team that struggled to an 11-21 overall record and was just 4-14 in conference play and the Cougars were just 45-80 in his four seasons there.
He got limited run in Las Vegas, playing 26 minutes in three games and finishing with eight points and only one rebound, while shooting 3-for-9 overall and going 2-for-7 from deep.
At 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, he at best projects to a small 4 or a big 3, but his defensive limitations may prevent him from being effective as a perimeter defender.
Franks will spend most of next season with the G-League’s Greensboro Swarm, where the Hornets will have time to determine whether they have found an unpolished gem or just a tweener on his way to a journeyman’s career abroad.