Who is Spencer Hawes?

I’m ashamed to say that when the Charlotte Hornets made the trade to send Lance Stephenson to the Los Angeles Clipper for Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes, I immediately said, “Who is Spencer Hawes?”

I’m a sheltered NBA fan.  The Charlotte Hornets are my only true pro sports passion, so, of course, I let popular opinion sway my judgement of getting Spencer.  That’s really not like me.  I embrace whoever joins the Hornets family.  I’m repeatedly documented as stating that I consider the organization more like a family than just a team.  I welcome any player with open arms.  I let it go with the addition of Spencer Hawes.  I was looking for ways to trade him.  I kept saying I was mad that he was here and he wasn’t worth losing Biz (I’m still mad Biz is gone, but I don’t blame Hawes).  At any rate, I plan to actually take a more in-depth look at Spencer and just see what he does and how he can contribute.

I started with pulling his career stats.  He shoots 46% from the floor and 35% from 3-point territory.  He’s a 70% free throw shooter.  He averages 6 rebounds, a block, 1.9 assists, and 9.2 points a game.  This all has come while averaging 23 minutes a game.  I’m not really seeing a terrible side to his game.  To be 7 feet tall, I would expect a few more rebounds.  This always held true for me back when we had Byron Mullens.  I had an in depth interview with him that I shared here, and the one thing that always stood out was that he could have a great shooting night from 3-point land, but would never be crashing the boards.  He could also be invisible on the floor at times.  Before he left, Mullens had taken to rebounding more, but a fairly severe ankle sprain might have dampened the desire to keep crashing the boards.  Am I saying that Hawes is Mullens 2.0?  Not really.  Mullens’ career numbers were that he was 40% from the floor, 32% from the 3-point line, with 4.2 rebounds, .5 blocks, 0.8 assists and 7.4 points per game.  I do not think that Hawes will be a Byron Mullens type player.

The next former Bobcat/Hornet that comes to mind is Josh McRoberts.  For his career, McBob has been 48% from the floor, 34.5% from 3-point territory, with 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.5 blocks, and 5.7 points.  We all loved Josh McRoberts, and his time in Charlotte was an upswing for his career numbers.  He was in a system that let him play his type of game.  He posted higher numbers in almost every category, with the largest jump being in his assists category.  Spencer’s best career year came in the 13-14 season where he averaged 46% from the floor, 42.4% from the 3-point line, 8.1 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 3 assists, & 13.3 points.  Now these stats came while averaging 31 minutes per game.  Is it possible that Hawes returns to those sort of numbers?  I believe it is very possible.  Charlotte just seems to be a place where players are allowed to play their game, and looking at Hawes and his numbers, I believe he will return to some career figures.  I don’t think he’s Byron Mullens or Josh McRoberts.  I think he’s Spencer Hawes, and I believe he will carve out a spot for himself with the Hornets and he will be able to prove himself to be valuable to the team.  I think he has the chance to become a new glue guy for the Hornets, which we are always in need of.

Hopefully everyone enjoyed this look into Spencer Hawes.  For an NBA player who has been in the league for the past 8 years, I was embarrassed to not know more about him.  With a little research, I’m excited to meet him and to see just what he can provide to the Hornets.  I may just take this article as my notes for Media Day, and just ask him who Spencer Hawes is.  I like seeing players and their sense of humor.  As the headline photo looks, I think I may like Spencer.  I can’t wait to meet him.

Stay tuned Hornets fans.  I plan on doing something similar to this with all of our new additions.

Until then…

Let’s Go Hornets