The Charlotte Hornets desperately need a backup point guard. Some believe that the missing piece could come through the 2026 draft. But they might not have to wait that long if Liam McNeeley can develop into a reliable playmaker off the bench.
The rookie certainly has the potential to fill the void, as he had been assigned that responsibility during his one-year stay with the University of Connecticut. The move, though, may have thrown him for a loop because being a full-time ball-handler appears to have affected his shooting. It partly resulted in his slide in the draft, which, of course, turned out to be beneficial for the Hornets.
McNeeley is coming off a remarkable short-lived stint with the Greensboro Swarm, where he was also assigned point guard duties. It has been helpful in his development, as evidenced by his average of 6.3 assists per game in four contests. He also showcased his all-around prowess by recording 19.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per match.
The only knock on his performance was his inefficient shooting (40.0 percent from the field and 18.2 percent from three). However, those numbers could correct themselves eventually, given his longstanding reputation as a floor-spacing marksman.
Risky play for Hornets
Some fans might balk at the idea of McNeeley becoming an initiator in Charlotte. After all, the team has already tried entrusting the responsibility to Collin Sexton and Tre Mann this season to no avail. The combo guards have not done much to dispel the notion that they are better suited to play the two instead of being facilitators.
However, McNeeley’s confident statement in an interview with HoopsHype should inspire some optimism among the Hornets faithful. Asked about his playmaking role with the Swarm, he expressed confidence, noting that the increased playing time and having the ball more in his hands have allowed him to be more comfortable.
“Whatever the defense gives me,” he added when asked further about how his new role has affected his aggressiveness. “If I get into paint, making the right read, shot, pass, or kick out, when I'm on the perimeter, those little short rolls, hit-unders, or just trying to make the right play regardless.”
The thing is, the Hornets don’t have that much to lose by trying to use the 20-year-old as a point guard. They don’t have enough alternatives anyway because of the lack of roster space and the dearth of options in free agency and the trade market.
McNeeley can also just find some inspiration from his fellow rookie, Kon Knueppel, who has shown some playmaking prowess and has dished out at least seven assists in five games this season. For the season, the Rookie of the Year frontrunner has averaged 3.6 dimes per outing, with his decision-making with the ball continuing to improve over time.
And if the suggested McNeeley experiment doesn’t pan out well, the organization can still wait for the 2026 summer to find an answer for its point guard woes.