The Charlotte Hornets are finding out that progression is far from linear. They’re in possession of a talented young roster, headlined by highlight machines LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges and supplemented by a solid mix of young talent and veteran influence.
Despite a well put together roster, the team is perhaps hitting a glass ceiling, falling at the play-in tournament for the second year running.
Given the youth that is peppered up and down the squad, internal development is a given. How else, though, can the Hornets improve their lot this off season?
The Roster
The Hornets have their foundational pieces in place.
LaMelo Ball is an offensive force. Despite his unusual – though the most textbook of the Ball brothers – shooting action Ball shot 38.9% from beyond the arc this season. His rebounding skill is often overlooked. Ball’s ability to read the ball (longer rebounds in particular) off the hand is elite. Corralling those loose balls and setting the Hornets off in transition opens up Ball’s signature skill: passing. The 20 year old is a passing savant who not only sees angles that other players wouldn’t even consider, he executes with a delightful flourish.
His partner in crime in Miles Bridges, who has turned into one of the games very best in game dunkers and was this season a genuine candidate for the leagues Most Improved Player award. They’re a fine pair to build around.
Supporting those two is a good mixture of young talent, in-their-prime contributors and veteran producers. Gordon Hayward isn’t the player he once was but is still a key connective piece who can fill any number of roles. Kelly Oubre Jr is very much a trick-or-treat type, but he can win you a game when he gets going. Terry Rozier and Montrezl Harrell are proven producers. PJ Washington a solid player as either a power forward or a small ball centre. The team have seen mere flashes from James Bouknight, who spent his rookie campaign buried by (now former) coach James Borrego.
Team Needs
The pieces are there. The Hornets are young and talented and do have a large degree of expected internal development to come. Ball and Bridges aside, though, improvements could be made at every position.
Given Hayward’s continuing injury issues, another versatile wing who is happy to play in the gaps would be welcome. Jalen McDaniels could turn into a more athletic, if less instinctive, solution. If Joe Ingles were five years younger he’d be an ideal addition.
The Hornets centre rotation isn’t exactly inspiring, either. Between Harrell and Mason Plumlee, the team employ a pair of veterans with some positives (passing form Plumlee, pick and roll play for Harrell) overwhelmed by a raft of negatives (literally every other part of their games). The development of rookie big man Kai Jones – another ignored by Borrego – could prove crucial.
The team could also do with a solid backup point guard to spell Ball. Devonte’ Graham was moved on last season (somehow bringing back a first round pick) and without him on board, much of the ball handling responsibilities fell to Rozier and Hayward when Ball sat. Hayward is connective tissue, able to facilitate a slick team offense, but he’s not a prime creative force, especially at this stage of his career. Rozier, for his part, is a pure two-guard. Serving others is not his thing.
The Cap Sheet
Despite an $8.9 million dead money cap hit for the ghost of Nicolas Batum, Charlotte’s cap sheet is extremely clean at $84 million, though that does only account for nine players. It’s the identity of those players not currently under contract that are potentially concerning, should the team’s off season not run to plan.
Bridges reportedly turned down a four year $60 million extension last off season.
This off season, as an unrestricted free agent, expect Bridges to field offers that could come close to doubling that annual salary. Keeping Bridges on board is simply not negotiable for Charlotte. Losing him will likely leave Ball disillusioned and potentially looking for an exit. Losing Bridges would be a disaster. He’ll get his bag.
In addition to Bridges, the team has to look to re-sign versatile backup Cody Martin and have a decision to make on exercising Harrell’s $9.7 million team option.
As far as expiring deals are concerned, Plumlee, Oubre, Washington and McDaniels are all rotation pieces that will enter next season on the last year of their current deals.
The Draft
The Hornets traded away their 2022 first rounder last draft day to acquire Jones, but the conditions attached to that trade mean that the team will retain the pick this season, the trade instead rolling over to 2023. That pick will, lottery hi-jinx aside, fall at 13. In addition, they hold the Pelicans pick (15) thanks to the extreme price they were able to extract for Graham.
There are so many directions that the Hornets could go in this draft. If negotiations with Bridges (he’s represented by the notoriously difficult Klutch Sports) are not proving productive then Charlotte could look to find his replacement with either of their picks. If he looks like staying in town, then Charlotte can go in any direction.
Should the Hornets decide to take another shot at a big man then Duke product Mark Williams is worth a shot. He’s legitimately huge and is quite athletic. He’s not great laterally so may struggle to guard on the perimeter, but he’s a smart player who knows his role. He’ll set hard screens, roll to the bucket and score from lobs and put backs. Defensively he’ll throw himself at every shot. His best case scenario is prime Deandre Jordan. He’s a few years away, but is a worthy project.
If a Ball backup is prioritised the Hornets will be hoping that TyTy Washington falls to them. There really isn’t another point guard in this draft class that looks worthy of a mid first round pick.
This writer expects the team to focus on finding a long term successor to Hayward: a smart, unselfish player that can contribute at both ends of the floor without being a star. Three names stand out: Johnny Davis, Malaki Branham and Dyson Daniels.
All three prospects have versatile offensive games who are comfortable leading an offense (Branham projects as the best scorer at NBA level) or playing facilitator (Daniels started his pro career as a point guard). All three are solid defensively and are respected as leaders within their clubs. The Hornets likely can’t go wrong with any of that trio.
