Hornets sign centre Harry Giles on one-year deal

The Charlotte Hornets and free agent center Harry Giles have agreed to terms on a one-year contract, his agent, Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports Management, told Shams Charania of The Athletic on Monday. The Duke alumnus and North Carolina native is returning home for a chance to compete for a spot on the Hornets’ roster.

Giles, 26, was selected 20th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2017 NBA draft. However, the 6-foot-11 big man was immediately traded to the Sacramento Kings for Zach Collins. Giles sat out the entire 2017-18 NBA season while recovering from ACL surgery.

🚨 For @ShamsCharaniaThe Charlotte Hornets have signed Harry Giles III to a one-year contract. photo.twitter.com/BL1vmwBqn6

— /r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) September 22, 2024

In 165 regular season NBA games (17 as a starter), Giles has averaged 5.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 11.7 minutes per game while shooting 50.8% from the field, 24.4% from 3-point range and 66.1% from the free throw line. His career usage percentage also stands at 21.2%.

In 58 games as a substitute for the Kings in his debut season in 2018–19, he averaged 7.0 points and 1.5 assists while connecting on 50.3% of his shots and making 63.7% of his free throws.

In Sacramento’s 132–116 loss to the Orlando Magic on August 2, 2020, the Duke product recorded a career-high 23 points on 9 of 11 (81.8%) shooting from the field and 5 of 6 (83.3%) from the line.

Harry Giles joins veteran center Nick Richards and third-year center Mark Williams at the Charlotte Hornets

Last season, in 23 games as a substitute for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers, he averaged 2.4 points, 1.3 rebounds and 4.3 minutes per game, the lowest marks of his career.

Brooklyn released Giles in February, and he signed a two-way contract with the Lakers in March. Los Angeles signed Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes to minimum contracts with player options last summer.

Despite this, injuries led the Lakers to look for frontcourt help late in the season, leading to the signing of Giles. He played in 16 games with the Nets and seven with Los Angeles.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham said he saw potential in Giles when the team signed him in March.

“Obviously he’s a very good young player, and he was available. But (he) is also someone we can take a good look at as we look to implement him into the program,” Ham said of Giles.

“I think he still has a lot of potential. He just needs to find the right program and we have the coaches who can help him get better.”

Giles will now play for the Hornets, a team that just finished a 21-61 (.256) season.