Two Way Contract: The KJ Simpson Thread

SWedd523 · Post #61 » by **SWedd523** » Sat Jan 4, 2025 5:03 pm

Hornet Mania wrote:Simpson looked much more comfortable out there yesterday than he did earlier in the year and seemed to know where he needed to be on the floor to make a few plays. Nothing mind blowing, but he looked like be belonged last night while earlier in the year he was just floating around skittishly waiting to do something.

He may not be the long-term backup solution but he gave more effort and injected more life into the team than Micic. Also competed well on defense, created several turnovers just through hustle. It's definitely worth giving him more run to see if this improvement continues.

He was completely rattled when Detroit starting pressing. Offense completely fell apart and it seemed like about half the possessions were busted due to pressure or not even being able to initiate the offense.

He's barely a third stringer

MasterIchiro · Post #62 » by **MasterIchiro** » Sat Jan 4, 2025 5:17 pm

Why is this guy even an occupant of letters in this text field?

He's on a 2-way contract and he's not getting off it anytime soon. The rule is 2 years on a 2-way contract.

So if the topic is PG2 or PG3, that's a different thread and text field entirely.

Ideally, Hornets add a PG2 and use Mann as PG3 when Mann is not SG2 or stepping up as SG1.

JMAC3 · Post #63 » by **JMAC3** » Mon Jan 27, 2025 10:22 pm

Chances this guy is on the team next year? 20%?

Post #64 » by **fatlever** » Mon Jan 27, 2025 10:26 pm

JMAC3 wrote:Chances this guy is on the team next year? 20%?

50%???
Not sure what his long term upside would be. Or a good comparison for him as a high end? I think he probably gets two years to prove himself Capable of the third point guard spot.

JMAC3 · Post #65 » by **JMAC3** » Mon Jan 27, 2025 10:30 pm

fatlever wrote:
JMAC3 wrote:Chances this guy is on the team next year? 20%?

50%???
Not sure what his long term upside would be. Or a good comparison for him as a high end? I think he probably gets two years to prove himself Capable of the third point guard spot.

Already 22 yrs old, with shooting splits of 29/18/70.

We already saw this bake out last year with Amari Bailey getting a 2 way deal and then being gone immediately.

Feels like he should be much better than he is after being a 3 yr college player.

Post #66 » by **fatlever** » Mon Jan 27, 2025 11:10 pm

JMAC3 wrote:
fatlever wrote:
JMAC3 wrote:Chances this guy is on the team next year? 20%?

50%???
Not sure what his long term upside would be. Or a good comparison for him as a high end? I think he probably gets two years to prove himself Capable of the third point guard spot.

Already 22 yrs old, with shooting splits of 29/18/70.

We already saw this bake out last year with Amari Bailey getting a 2 way deal and then being gone immediately.

Feels like he should be much better than he is after being a 3 yr college player.

The only thing I would say that might be different between this and the Bailey situation is Bailey wasn't drafted by the current front office. So I think Simpson will get a longer leash since he was one of their picks. He does seem to be playing pretty well with this warm right now and I think last I loved his percentages were like 35% from three. That's probably where he needs to be to stick with his size

HornetJail · Post #67 » by **HornetJail** » Mon Jan 27, 2025 11:23 pm

fatlever wrote:
JMAC3 wrote:
fatlever wrote:
50%???
Not sure what his long term upside would be. Or a good comparison for him as a high end? I think he probably gets two years to prove himself Capable of the third point guard spot.

Already 22 yrs old, with shooting splits of 29/18/70.

We already saw this bake out last year with Amari Bailey getting a 2 way deal and then being gone immediately.

Feels like he should be much better than he is after being a 3 yr college player.

The only thing I would say that might be different between this and the Bailey situation is Bailey wasn't drafted by the current front office. So I think Simpson will get a longer leash since he was one of their picks. He does seem to be playing pretty well with this warm right now and I think last I loved his percentages were like 35% from three. That's probably where he needs to be to stick with his size

Simpson's skillset is also not duplicated a thousand times on our current roster. Bailey was behind a CRAZY amount of score first guards, none of whom could feasibly play together in any kind of cohesive lineup.

I think Simpson's status depends on our trade deadline and then our draft. I don't see how he isn't backup PG from February to April if we don't trade for a replacement. I'd say there's less than a 10% chance Micic is playing for us past the deadline, whether that comes via trade or buyout, or he just sits out down the stretch like Tony Parker.

(Maybe a an asterisk on him being the only remaining PG, because we might force feed NSJ some backup PG duties but he's very clearly not a PG)

wilson115 · Post #68 » by **wilson115** » Sat Jul 12, 2025 2:12 am

Tough with so many guards already but can he play himself into staying on the roster?

Read on Twitter

Post #69 » by **fatlever** » Sat Jul 12, 2025 6:08 am

He kind of disappeared in the second half especially once they got up in his grill a little bit. But definitely good to see him come out shooting like that. he will do well as the point guard for the swarm next year.

UNCNYC · Post #70 » by **UNCNYC** » Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:33 pm

Las & Found - The KJ Simpson Thread

UNCNYC · Post #71 » by **UNCNYC** » Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:53 pm

I thought Las & Found was good name cause he is in Vegas where he found his game

Las & Found - The KJ Simpson Thread

Liver_Pooty · Post #72 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Fri Feb 6, 2026 8:00 pm

Hornets IG said farewell to him so I’m assuming he was waived or released?

chrbal · Post #73 » by **chrbal** » Fri Feb 6, 2026 8:07 pm

Liver_Pooty wrote:Hornets IG said farewell to him so I’m assuming he was waived or released?

They just waived him, I googled it. X Or Hornetsreddit had the link

Liver_Pooty · Post #74 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Fri Feb 6, 2026 8:07 pm

chrbal wrote:
Liver_Pooty wrote:Hornets IG said farewell to him so I’m assuming he was waived or released?

They just waived him, I googled it. X Or Hornetsreddit had the link

Dang, tough break for him.

Post #75 » by **JDR720** » Fri Feb 6, 2026 8:08 pm

Must be bringing in a waiver wire guy or another 2way? I liked KJ even though he never really made an impact for the team.

JMAC3 · Post #76 » by **JMAC3** » Fri Feb 6, 2026 8:26 pm

Isn't a real NBA player, glad they moved on finally.

Post #77 » by **fatlever** » Fri Feb 6, 2026 8:32 pm

it was time, but i really liked kj as a person. he'll always have that vegas summer league chip

HornetJail · Post #78 » by **HornetJail** » Fri Feb 6, 2026 8:46 pm

is Greensboro going to keep him? Maybe he could play his way into a 10-day contract down the line. He wasn't awful but didn't particularly look like an NBA player either.

Post #79 » by **fatlever** » Fri Feb 6, 2026 8:48 pm

kj has been out with hip injury since jan 17.
i think it was a factor

Bassman · Post #80 » by **Bassman** » Fri Feb 6, 2026 10:06 pm

fatlever wrote:it was time, but i really liked kj as a person. he'll always have that vegas summer league chip

KJ was dedicated, had a super attitude and effort, but he just couldn’t sustain performance at a high enough level. Maybe after he’s healthy he could get another try with a different g league team, or maybe he’ll go to Europe, but just don’t see him having the ability to stick.

Best wishes KJ, blessings to you and your future endeavors!