It seems like a long time since the Charlotte Hornets made the playoffs. In fact, their eight consecutive seasons without the playoffs gives them the NBA’s longest-running bragging rights. longest active playoff drought.
To compound Charlotte’s woes, the team has only made the playoffs three times in the last two decades, recording just three wins in that span. Unfortunately, the Hornets off-season movements This doesn’t really offer much hope for the franchise turning into a contender in the near future.
Still, the team should have no choice but to move on after finishing the 2023-24 regular season with a 21-61 record, its worst winning percentage since the lockout-shortened 2011-12 campaign, when it went 7-59.
ESPN doesn’t think the Hornets will improve right away, as it projects the team to finish 21-61 again in its Latest NBA Predictions.
This may seem too harsh as it is difficult to see Charlotte winning around 25% of her games again when she has seen some improvements in recent months.
Among those factors is the possible health toll on star LaMelo Ball. The former Rookie of the Year has appeared in a combined 58 games over the past two years. However, he showed his potential to be one of the best floor generals of his generation when he played 75 times during the 2021-22 season and was named an All-Star that year.
Promising big man Mark Williams is also expected to have a breakout season after spending a significant portion of his first two NBA seasons on injured reserve. However, when healthy, the Duke University product has shown the potential to be an effective rim runner who can perfectly complement Ball’s game. There was also some good news for Hornets fans after Williams went down with an injury. start training again makes rounds.
Additionally, a Big 3 is on the horizon in Charlotte, as Brandon Miller proved why he was worth the franchise’s consideration with the No. 2 pick in last year’s draft. The winger finished third in the Rookie of the Year race behind Victor Wembanyama and redshirt freshman Chet Holmgren.
Besides the “core“As the Hornets governor announced a few months ago, the team also has a variety of role players who could step up and provide the necessary athleticism. Some of those who can potentially contribute right from the start of the regular season are Tre Mann, Josh Green, Grant Williams and Nick Richards.
So, based on the roster, this team looks set to turn heads early this season. New general manager Jeff Peterson and head coach Charles Lee will have to prove they are up to the task of leading a talented team out of the Eastern Conference cellars.
