​After introducing himself to the NBA Summer League with a double-double, former Washington Huskies star forward Hannes Steinbach’s second outing with the Charlotte Hornets proved to be much quieter. In a 95-91 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, the No. 14 overall draft pick came off the bench and logged 22 minutes, finishing with 7 points on 2-for-5 shooting, along with 6 rebounds and a single block.
It wasn’t the best day for the 6-foot-11 German, who carried a plus-minus of -10 and also committed 3 turnovers and 3 fouls. Yet, his Summer League minutes felt more procedural than pivotal, as the Hornets anticipate Steinbach stepping into a larger role as a rookie.
Charlotte’s addition of Steinbach could help elevate the team toward the league’s elite rebounding ranks. The Hornets finished last season as the No. 5 club in rebounds per game, averaging 46.1 boards, even after trading Miles Bridges, who was second on the team with 5.8 rebounds per game. Steinbach’s presence promises to bolster those numbers, given his prowess at Washington, where he dominated the boards with an 11.8-rebound-per-game average as a one-year standout, earning All-Big Ten Third Team recognition. That interior man advantage is further complemented by a potential frontcourt upgrade through a trade for Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid, who averaged 6.2 rebounds per game last season, and by Moussa Diabaté, who led Charlotte with 8.9 rebounds per contest a year ago.
The potential frontcourt trio of Steinbach, Reid, and Diabaté gives the Hornets a formidable combination on the glass, and it arrives as the team contends with the gaps left by other offseason moves. While Steinbach’s role may grow incrementally at first, the coaching staff is likely to rely on his rebounding instincts and size as a foundational element of a more rugged interior presence.
For the second straight game, former Washington guard Terrell Brown Jr. did not see any court time for the Hornets. Charlotte is scheduled to return to action on Sunday, July 12, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, facing the Boston Celtics.
This summary originated from Huskies Wire, highlighting Steinbach’s modest Summer League performance against the New Orleans Pelicans, and is intended to support improved search visibility.