Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Even though he should some improvement in his first full season with the New Orleans Hornets, forward Al-Farouq Aminu should not be brought back next season.
Aminu put together the best season of his three year professional career in 2012-2013, reaching career highs in points (7.3) rebounds (7.7) assists (1.4) and shooting percentage (.475) while starting 71 of 76 games for the Hornets. But the rebuilding franchise will need to upgrade their small forward position either via the draft or free agency this summer, making Aminu immediately expendable.
The Hornets acquired Aminu along with Eric Gordon as part of the trade that sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, and were hoping that Aminu would be able to develop as part of the Hornets’ rotation. While he has gotten a little better, Aminu just doesn’t have the perimeter skills to hold down the wing position on a regular basis.
While Aminu is still young at only 22 years old and has a decent career ahead of him, he may again need a change of scenery to help him develop even further. Anthony Davis is the clear future of the franchise and Greivis Vasquez appears to have found a home as the starting point guard, and if the Hornets can compliment them with a small forward that can stretch the floor and finish on the wing then they would be more dangerous overall offensively.
Aminu showed flashes of the potential that got him drafted eighth overall in 2010, but not enough to keep him around New Orleans. The Hornets already declined to pick up the 2013-2014 option on his rookie deal, making Aminu an unrestricted free agent. Aminu will more than likely be on an NBA roster next season, it just may no longer be with the Hornets.
