It is virtually there.
The gamers are again from their final summer season trip and the countdown to the Charlotte Hornets‘ To start with coaching camp underneath coach Charles Lee The sport is quick approaching. And there are many questions forward of the Hornets’ official apply at Duke College’s Michael W. Krzyzewski Heart on Oct. 1.
On this newest mailbag, we reply readers’ questions on key rotation battles, what to anticipate from the rookies, and what to anticipate from the rookies. Tidjane Salaünwhether or not Josh Inexperienced will likely be within the beginning lineup and extra.
What are the keys? issues to search for in coaching camp?
@buzz_szn asks on X, previously often called Twitter: What are the largest place/rotation battles to observe?
We’ll dive deeper into this subject in our upcoming coaching camp preview, however there are two positions the place will probably be fascinating to see how issues play out. The primary is the guard rotation, particularly given the alternative ways Lee can deal with the backup guard spots. It will likely be particularly fascinating to observe how Lee mixes and matches his guard rotation, on condition that he has completely different choices with Tre Mann, Brandon Miller, Josh Inexperienced, and Vasa Micić.
The opposite place is energy ahead behind Miles Bridges. Beforehand, that they had the luxurious of placing PJ Washington there, both with the beginning lineup or as a backup. Now, there is not any conventional energy ahead to play subsequent to Mark Williams. Grant Williams can play energy ahead and heart, however he does not match that “conventional” mildew. So what Lee does together with his forwards will likely be one other factor to observe.
Will Tidjane Salaün contribute instantly?
David Inscoe asks on X: What are reasonable expectations for Tidjane Salaün’s rookie season? Will he be a rotation participant by the tip of the yr?
There’s a little bit of a caveat right here, as there are nonetheless quite a lot of unknowns with the Hornets’ 2024 first-round decide. He’s nonetheless younger and wishes time to develop, however the potential is there. In his restricted summer season league motion, he’s proven a number of the abilities that make him a doubtlessly attractive choice. Nonetheless, at 18, he’s having to transition to a brand new tradition and work setting, whereas additionally adjusting extra to the way in which the sport is performed on this aspect of the pond and the bodily nature of the NBA.
It is exhausting to suppose he’ll be part of the principle rotation instantly until there are accidents forward of him on the depth chart or he has an unbelievable preseason efficiency. There is a good probability Salaun will likely be used particularly for defensive functions early on earlier than turning into a full-time member of the highest eight or 9 gamers in a rotation. However primarily based on early seems to be, he has an opportunity to turn into an efficient participant at that stage.
Will Josh Inexperienced begin alongside LaMelo Ball?
ConversationAndHennessy asks on X: Is Josh Inexperienced positively planning to start out or is there competitors from Cody Martin and others?
Inexperienced is more likely to begin at guard alongside LaMelo Ball. He offers a pleasant stability for the Hornets and might take a number of the stress off Ball by defending both guard, which may very well be an enormous asset given Ball’s penchant for selecting up fouls. On condition that Inexperienced can play a number of positions, it is going to give Lee choices, and having Inexperienced within the lineup early helps set the tone Lee is in search of on that finish of the ground.
What’s flawed with KJ Simpson?
Eric Scott Schaeffer asks on X: Is KJ Simpson Melo’s future alternative or is it another person? Will he reside within the G League this yr?
Sure and sure. That is the thought course of. After they chosen Simpson, the Hornets have been wanting extra towards the long run than the current. Usually, second-round picks take a little bit longer to develop than first-round picks, so to hurry up that course of, the Hornets will get Simpson with the Greensboro Swarmpermitting him to hone his G League abilities for a lot of the season.
With the Swarm, he has extra alternatives to be on the court docket usually, which is the place you be taught greatest moderately than sitting on the bench watching the Hornets’ essential roster play. The group values Simpson’s ardour and work ethic, and at the moment views him as a future backup level guard.
What are your greatest reminiscences out of your time with the Hornets?
Miller Muse asks on X: What are your high 3 moments overlaying the Hornets?
Nice query, and a really tough one to slender down to a few. Watching spectacular comebacks on out of doors tracks might be actually cool, which is why the Hornets’ unlikely victory in Denver in 2021 You need to embody him. It was the night time Kelly Oubre and P.J. Washington have been unconscious within the fourth quarter, serving to flip a 17-point deficit into an eight-point victory over the Nuggets. When Washington was requested why he was so scorching and what had gotten into him, he mentioned he was simply able to go residence. And he wasn’t the one one, both, as a result of it was simply hours earlier than Christmas.
Quantity 2 can be Kemb Walker give it to Jimmy Butler in 2018. What an unbelievable efficiency and what a maddening night time contemplating the way it ended: Butler hit a shot to propel Philadelphia to a wild win.
And probably the most memorable second, even when it evokes heartburn for a lot of Hornets followers, occurred in 2016. It was at The Hornets’ last playoff sport and the environment was loopy. The group was going wild and feeling victorious till, nicely, we all know what occurred, due to the man within the purple shirt in some folks’s eyes. However, yeah, it is the perfect half, and it is one more reason why it is a fairly convincing case that if the Hornets ever get their act collectively and make it again to the playoffs, this metropolis will likely be off the charts with its depth.
A pleasant bonus second: an in-depth take a look at what it takes to be a mascot like Hugo. Tales like these are very nice to inform to readers.
