Why It Is Time To Panic With Kai Jones
When the Charlotte Hornets decided to trade into the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft, there were several intriguing prospects to choose from. They ultimately decided to draft Kai Jones which generated a lot of excitement among fans, considering the team needed a young center to develop.
However, since being drafted, Jones has struggled to make an impact.
His latest performance in the California Classic against the San Antonio Spurs has raised legitimate concerns for many. Jones was a non-factor in the game, playing 21 minutes without recording any rebounds and scoring only two points, all of which came from the free throw line. If that, in year three isn't a red flag, I don't know what is.
Furthermore, Jones was outplayed by Dominick Barlow, a former undrafted free agent from the 2022 NBA Draft. Barlow looked significantly better than Jones in that game. On a side note, Barlow's impressive performance suggests that he may have a chance at making the Spurs' main roster once again.
But back to Jones, there's no more time for excuses. He needs to show some signs of improvement, especially with the emergence of Mark Williams, the team's selection of James Nnaji in the 2023 NBA Draft, and Nick Richards, a second-round pick, outperforming Jones last season.
However, Jones has the potential to be a great basketball player, particularly due to his athleticism. He displayed some of it in this game with an impressive block.
If Jones could have more outings like he did last season against the Oklahoma City Thunder in March, where he secured 14 rebounds and scored 12 points, he wouldn't be fighting for a spot in the rotation.
Towards the end of last season, Jones saw an increase in minutes and showed some improvement in those opportunities. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to put it all together and address his weaknesses. The signs should have been seen when Jones' name came up in trade discussions last season.
Now, let me be clear — I'm not suggesting giving up on Kai Jones.
There's still a chance he can contribute to a Hornets playoff run and maybe last night was just an "off night" for him. That being said, he needs to get things figured out soon or the level of concern will continue to grow in Charlotte.
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