Last season, the Charlotte Hornets posted their worst winning percentage since going 21-61 in 2012-13. They finished the previous regular season with the same percentage.
ESPN predicts The next campaign will be more of the same for the Hornets, predicting that the team will not improve and will once again finish 21-61.
There are several reasons to believe Charlotte could at least get more wins, especially with LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams expected to recover from injuries in time for the start of the regular season and Brandon Miller continuing to improve.
Noted analyst Stephen A. Smith is among those who don’t believe Charlotte is destined to advance in the 2024-25 campaign.
Asked by Hornets fan Evan Hale, who called in during “Live with Stephen A. Smith“, who he believes will make a significant jump in the rankings, he gave the Hive some sobering news. He said: “You have no chance of being relevant next season. I hope the future is bright.”
According to the sports personality, there is a glimmer of hope in Charlotte as the team has Ball and a new coach in Charles Lee. What he forgot to mention, however, is that the Hornets also have a promising team core to help their star leader.
Smith may be aware of this, but he doesn’t yet have an optimistic outlook on the team this year. Hopefully, such a sentiment, which many others probably share, can light the fire within the team.
On the other hand, some fans might think that Charlotte should continue to remain patient and not to rush its reconstruction efforts.
The franchise actually has an incentive not to compete too hard for a 2025 playoff spot, as it owes the San Antonio Spurs a lottery-protected first-round pick in the upcoming draft.
It’s worth noting that the 2025 draft class is expected to be loaded with plenty of potential game-changers. Cooper Flagg appears to be the pick of the bunch, though there are also several swingman prospects who could fit nicely into Charlotte’s current base.
While the organization has a vested interest in keeping the pick, it also has to be wary of the impact years of losing could have on its players. Hopefully the Hornets can find the right balance between rebuilding and maintaining healthy morale in the locker room.
