So, what's the deal with Frank Kaminsky? The rookie didn't play a second against the Portland Trail Blazers, and is only averaging 10.2 minutes per game. Could Steve Clifford be doing the same thing to this year's lottery pick as he did to Noah Vonleh?
According to the Charlotte Observer, it's a bit too early to panic:
Kaminsky has scored 29 points in 92 minutes. He's flashed excellent range from behind the three-point line but struggled just about everywhere else.
The Hornets should probably play their rookie more than they are, but they're also winning games without him. It's a thin line to balance on.
I don’t think that’s Clifford losing faith in Kaminsky. Clifford constantly praises the rookie’s skill set and says Kaminsky will play more in a month to six weeks from now, as he better figures out how to play NBA-quality defense. This is not Noah Vonleh all over again. Clifford said all the way back to when the Hornets drafted Vonleh that he was a long-term project who probably wouldn’t play much as a rookie. Then Vonleh needed surgery to repair a sports hernia, which cost him most of his rookie preseason. Kaminsky used all four seasons of college eligibility and is highly skilled. He’ll get his chances in the second half of this season.
