The Charlotte Hornets went back over a Royce O'Neale closeout on film at practice Monday, one day removed from a 105-90 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in their final home exhibition.
O'Neale is 33 and entering his 10th NBA season. Charlotte got him from the Phoenix Suns in a trade agreed to June 28, along with Grayson Allen and a 2033 first-round pick.
Miles Bridges went the other way with a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick. When the deal became official June 29, O'Neale signed off from Phoenix on Instagram with "LETS GET TO WORK CHARLOTTE." Suns general manager Brian Gregory thanked both O'Neale and Allen in the team's release.
Bridges had been the longest-tenured player on the roster. The Hornets took him in the first round in 2018 out of Michigan State, and they never reached the playoffs with him. His last game for Charlotte was the 121-90 play-in loss at Orlando on April 17.
Hornets coach Charles Lee said O'Neale's impact has shown up in just about every area.
"As you can tell, he just impacts everything, literally defense, offense, media sessions," Lee said. "The guy just has a knack for getting involved, and so love having him around and his presence and the way that he competes."
"I think you're seeing it defensively," Lee continued. "We watched a clip today, one of his hot closeouts. He gets to A.J. Green's body, makes him put it down. He gets a low contest, a high contest, comes back in and helps rebound. I think he's had a couple really good passes and creations. I'm still a little bit questionable about that left-hand finish that he had, but it was pretty impressive. So, love, love what Royce has given to our team."
O'Neale Brings Proven Two-Way Production
In Phoenix last season, O'Neale averaged career highs of 9.8 points and 2.7 3-pointers in 28.4 minutes a game. He also put up 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 42.1% from the field.
The Suns went 45-37 and lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. Phoenix had acquired O'Neale from the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team deal before the 2024 trade deadline.
Before the NBA, O'Neale played two seasons at Baylor after transferring from Denver. He is from Killeen, Texas.
Charlotte also traded LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves in June, three days before the Bridges deal, in the trade that brought back Naz Reid.
Brandon Miller Values O'Neale's Experience
O'Neale has not taught Brandon Miller his pump fake, by Miller's account.
Miller said O'Neale's willingness to pass and his experience stand out.
"No, I think he's more of a better shooter than me on the three-point line, so I'm going to give him that one," Miller said. "But he's always a willing passer. He plays the game the right way. So having a 10, 12-year vet like him around us is always great for us because he knows he's been through the game. He's been through whatever. He knows what it takes to get to where we want to be. So having him around is great for us."
Miller went 4-of-9 from 3-point range against Milwaukee and led Charlotte with 18 points. Reid scored 16.
Allen, the other veteran in the Phoenix trade, sat out Sunday with right knee soreness. Kon Knueppel and Coby White have yet to play in the preseason, and Grant Williams, the subject of calls for a trade this season, is listed with a hamstring injury.
Hornets Continue Preseason in Boston
The Hornets went 44-38 last season, after a 19-63 finish the year before.
Lee laid out what he expects from this group last week.
Charlotte is 1-1 in the preseason. O'Neale and the Hornets face the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Wednesday, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. ET.