While Kemba Walker is the unquestioned leader of the Charlotte Hornets, there’s plenty of uncertainty about his second-in-command.

Finishing last season at a disappointing 36-46, the Charlotte Hornets were among the least remarkable teams in the NBA last season. The only semblance of identity for this team was Cardiac Kemba, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. At the point guard slot, Walker led the team in points, assists, steals, and heart. Charlotte clearly struggled when he was off the court, likely because there was no clear answer to the question of who the second-best Hornet was.

Last season, Dwight Howard stood out as a potential right-hand man. The team’s leading rebounder and second-leading scorer was traded though (and that’s not to mention his struggles with effort, defense, and turnovers). Nicolas Batum had a down year and battled injuries. Jeremy Lamb didn’t log enough minutes last year, and Cody Zeller was out for over half the season. That leaves Charlotte in the same boat as they were in last year – in search of a second option.

Nicolas Batum

The French wing is ready to rebound from his unfortunate 2017-2018 campaign. After announcing he’ll return to his natural small forward position, hopes are high once again for Batum. His creative passing and deft handling abilities were crucial for the Hornets most recent playoff run. If he can return to that level, he’d be a clear second option.

That’s a big if though. While the 29-year-old did appear healthier towards the end of the year, he certainly didn’t look like his past self. If the injuries linger and Batum still can’t find his stroke, the Hornets will have to look elsewhere for a second option.

At 6’8″, Batum defends well enough, throws some expert passes, and can knock down jumpers. It seems like he’d be a no-brainer to name him as the definitive number two guy. That said, it’s certainly fair to speculate that he’s not. His elbow injury clearly affected him, and returning to the SF slot may be a rougher transition than expected after two years at SG. Without a doubt, there’s some scrutiny surrounding Batum.

Charlotte should definitely give him some run as the primary non-Kemba option. Hopefully, he can prove his worth to new coach James Borrego and cement himself as a key cog in the Hornets machine.