CHARLOTTE, N.C. — P.J. Washington has regressed this season.
You can say his role has changed and defenses are more conscious of his presence, and you would be right. But Washington, the Charlotte Hornets’ starting power forward, isn’t as good as he was as a rookie. It’s noticeable.
He is shooting worse from both the field and 3-point range. His rebounding is up slightly, but he isn’t as dynamic with the ball as he was last season. All this came to a head of late, with Washington making seven of his last 30 shots from the field. Granted, he missed two games with a sprained foot, but what’s off seems about more than that.
I asked both Washington and coach James Borrego what’s ailing Washington’s performance prior to Wednesday’s 130-114 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
“I’ve been up-and-down. My biggest thing right now is trying to find somewhere to be consistent,” Washington said following morning shootaround.
Washington is taking fewer 3s and his percentage of making them has fallen from 37% to 34%. Those three percentage points are typically the difference between a strong NBA 3-point shooter and a mediocre one.
“Sometimes I make them, sometimes I don’t,” Washington said. “I’ve just got to be aggressive when I have the chance to take them.”
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When I asked Borrego about Washington’s struggles, he noted how much Washington’s role has shifted as a result of adding rookie LaMelo Ball and free agent Gordon Hayward. Those two handle the ball the most on this roster, along with Devonte Graham. That means Washington gets fewer touches this season, and he is more dependent on others’ actions to perform.
“Last year the ball was in his hands a lot more — more usage. This year we have the ball in other people’s hands more,” Borrego described. “He’ll be the recipient a lot (of others’ decisions and passes). Last year, he was more involved as a playmaker.”
Based on ESPN’s measure of usage (the number of offensive chances per game), Washington rates slightly higher this year than last season — 19.4 compared to 18.6. However, it’s clear he is less central to Charlotte’s offense this season, as the Hornets have more options.
Washington has also been asked to play more small-ball center this season. That’s not easy for a 6-foot-7 player, but Washington said repeatedly in the preseason he welcomed the opportunity to play two positions.
Washington arrived for training camp in poor shape; Borrego said so publicly in the preseason, stating, “He’s got to play better. He’s got to be in better shape. We need him to peak out this season.”
Whether or not conditioning still is an issue, Washington has been too inconsistent. I wonder sometimes if he set such a high standard from the start of his rookie season (seven 3-pointers in his NBA debut) that he struggles now to maintain that level.
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At the end of last season, I would have called Washington, the 12th overall pick out of Kentucky, this team’s biggest asset going forward. Now, I’m not sure if he’s this team’s best power forward.
Miles Bridges injects so much energy as Charlotte’s second-unit power forward, rather than as the starting small forward. He was miscast as a small forward, playing there by default before Hayward’s arrival.
I wouldn’t make Bridges the starter and Washington the backup, at least not right now. That might worsen Washington’s slump, and Bridges is so comfortable now coming off the bench.
But I do wonder, if the Hornets eventually choose between Washington and Bridges, whether Washington is still the clear favorite. Washington might be more skilled, but Bridges plays harder, in a way that rubs off positively on teammates.
Washington absolutely deserved that All-Rookie team slot last season.
Now it’s fair to ask when — or if — he’ll take the next step.
