Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL and torn meniscus in his right knee, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Williams, a sixth-year forward who began his career with the Boston Celtics, arrived in Charlotte at last season’s trade deadline.
The injury occurred on Saturday, during the Hornets’ loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Williams was driving toward the basket trying to score on Bucks big man Brook Lopez when he took a long step and collapsed. From there he was helped off the field and did not return to the game.
Williams had been averaging 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for the Hornets, but his value was primarily measured on the defensive end of the floor for a young Hornets team that is still growing on that end of the floor. The Hornets ranked 29th in defense last season, but have improved to 19th so far this season with Williams playing a big role in their forward rotation.
With Williams now out, the Hornets will have to rely even more on younger wings like Brandon Miller and Tidjane Salaun, as well as veterans like Cody Martin and Miles Bridges. With a 6-10 record on the season, Charlotte currently sits in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Even though bettors peg them as a lottery team, the Hornets have a chance in a thin Eastern Conference to at least make the Play-In Tournament. Losing Williams will make getting there that much more difficult.
