With the absence of a player capable of starting at center, the Charlotte Hornets might have to consider bestowing that role on Ryan Kalkbrenner. The question is whether the rookie is ready to take on the challenge. History may not be on his side, though.
According to Sam Vecenie of the "Game Theory Podcast," there are no starting centers in the NBA right now who played for more than two years in the NCAA or overseas before being drafted. Kalkbrenner spent five seasons with Creighton University, even being older than 2023 draftees Brandon Miller and Nick Smith Jr.