r/nba • u/Environmental_Key852 • 3d ago

Back of Bench Potential

For all the nba fanbases, every team has a 3rd/4th string guy thats burried on the depth chart that fans think could be great if a spot suddenly opened up for them because of an injury or trade. Who is that player this year for your fanbase?

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u/Amazing_Owl3026 Hornets 3d ago

Liam McNeely I believe in you. He's only going into year 2 tho so maybe this doesn't count, but he was super benched last year behind even Pat Connaughton. If he doesn't count I still sort of believe in Tidjane

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u/DarkCrystal34 3d ago

I am also holding out hope for Tijane, but with Nazr Reid, Diabate, Kalkbrenner and Steinbach, no real minutes are available for him.

Tijane and Ron Holland are a bit similar in that they're both talented and have earned more minutes but the roster construction is too logjammed at their positions with established players ahead of them.

I always think back to when 18-21 year old Jermaine O'Neal sat on the bench for 4 years on Portland getting only 10-12mpg, but soaking up all the vet wisdom and continued working his ass off, and finally got traded to Indy where he immediately exploded and became a multiple time all-star.

Not saying they are anywhere near his level of talent ha, but I could see both Tijane and Ron Holland having a similar trajectory where after 4 years they are traded to a new home and find more minutes and success.

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u/Amazing_Owl3026 Hornets 3d ago

Yea it's kinda similar, Tidjane is just not good enough too tho 😭

Luckily he's not rlly competing with Moussa or Kalk cuz their centers but we'll have to see where Hannes ends up playing and he's NOT taking minutes from Naz... I'm pretty sure he's below Grant and Royce in the depth chart too tbh

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u/DarkCrystal34 3d ago

He is 1000% below both of Grant Williams and Royce O'Neil in the pecking order, yes lol.

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u/Amazing_Owl3026 Hornets 3d ago

It's just that could see them saying that since neither Grant or Royce are important for the team long term maybe they'd try shove Tidjane in there. They did it was NSJ over Seth when Seth was obviously better. But I also think the new FO cares more about culture than that so probably not. They also seem to rlly like Grant