The Charlotte Hornets entered Thursday night's game in search of their eighth-straight win, looking to tie the New York Knicks for the longest such streak in the league.
Additionally, a win would mark their longest winning streak since 1999-2000.
That said, with such a streak on the line, many fans were surprised to see Tre Mann return to the rotation. Having been mostly used in garbage time as of late, Mann made an early appearance for Charlotte and logged the most minutes he's played since prior to Christmas.
Given his recent struggles, it's fair to ask: What changed? Well for starters, Charlotte just traded backup point guard Collin Sexton to the Chicago Bulls. Additionally, their new acquisition, Coby White is on the injured list. As is KJ Simpson, a two-way player used occasionally for depth at the point guard position.
With all of this in mind, Mann was given another opportunity.
Unfortunately, Mann was unable to produce. He finished with five points, five rebounds, three assists and two turnovers. He also struggled from the field, finishing just 1-for-10.
Either way, the Hornets earned a 10-point victory and moved to 10th in the conference as a result. Still, Mann's struggles have been disappointing, especially after Charlotte signed him to an extension in the offseason.
It's no secret that Mann has struggled shooting this season, averaging a career-low 36.3% from the field and scoring a career-low 7.4 points per game. His three-point efficiency has also taken a step back, averaging 32.3% from deep, the second-lowest mark of his career.
While White is likely to be sidelined until after the All-Star break, Mann may have a couple more opportunities to play meaningful minutes.
But, given his struggles, he could easily be left out of the rotation when Charlotte regains full health.
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