Just two years ago, Charlotte missed the playoffs by a whisker, with the same record as the Hawks, the last qualifier. Steve Clifford returned to take James Borrego's place on the bench, who seemed to have lost his locker room. The results, two years later? Two sad seasons, far from the playoffs and even the “play-in”.
Injuries to some, troubles to others, and here we are again with the North Carolina franchise in the depths of the Eastern Conference, trying to bounce back.
Deprived of LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams for three-quarters of the season, Steve Clifford's team couldn't hope for much. So, failing to grow, we accelerated the transition with a roster remodeled at the deadline following the departures of Terry Rozier, PJ Washington, or Gordon Hayward. The veterans left their place to the young promises of the squad. Hopefully they'll be ready to play.
LaMelo Ball is highly anticipated to regain the All-Star status he had in 2022, for what remains the only full season of his career, having already missed nearly 150 games in four years. The point guard must be the leader of these “new look” Hornets, with new coach Charles Lee as another symbol. Former assistant to Joe Mazzulla in Boston, but also a champion in Mike Budenholzer's staff in Milwaukee, the 39-year-old coach will have his first experience with the reins of a group.
This one also counts a lot on the second season of Brandon Miller, already interesting during his rookie year but whose understanding with LaMelo Ball is still poorly evaluated. Finally extended, Miles Bridges will be the other point provider of the starting five, completed by Mark Williams and potentially Grant Williams, or Josh Green. The pivot will want to resume his rise in power started at the beginning of last season, where he notably signed a game with 24 rebounds against the Wizards before injuring his back.
As for Josh Green, he is one of the rare summer recruits, expected after being recovered from the Mavericks. We will also have to monitor the minutes of Frenchman Tidjane Salaün, in whom the Hornets management seems to have great hopes after having recovered him in sixth place in the last Draft.
The wins may not pile up right away, but Charlotte can at least not rebuild from scratch.
SUMMER MOVEMENTS
Arrivals: Moussa Diabaté (two-way), Taj Gibson, Harry Giles, Josh Green, Tidjane Salaün, KJ Simpson (two-way),
Departures: Davis Bertans, Reggie Jackson, Bryce McGowens, Aleksej Pokusevski, JT Thor
PLAYER TO WATCH: BRANDON MILLER
Obviously, LaMelo Ball will be scrutinized, both for his health and for his production as a “franchise player”. But Brandon Miller will also be monitored. The guard/wing confirmed his talent last season in the middle of the field of ruins, while showing real room for improvement. The basics seen in the NCAA are there: ability to create his shot, good dribbling with his size, defense… Brandon Miller already has enough basketball in his hands to have responsibilities. The cleaning up of the last few months in the squad gives him the perfect opportunity to immediately establish himself as LaMelo Ball's main lieutenant.
To do this, he will need to improve his creation for his teammates, as he has sometimes lacked accuracy, particularly on pick-and-rolls, and his shot selection. But he should also benefit greatly from the presence of LaMelo Ball at his side to open up the game and easier points.
Announced as a possible starter at position 2, he could become a real problem for Charlotte's opponents, as his 2m06 can bother opposing exteriors, while creating many favorable “mismatches” in attack. This option would make the game with screen between Ball and Miller on the back base particularly intriguing, as much as his possible progress after having participated in Team USA practices and oppositions this summer.
Average age: 25.4 years
Payroll: $144.7 million (28e)
THE IDEAL SCENARIO
The dream plan for Charles Lee's first season is primarily a mostly empty infirmary. While recent trades have thickened the rotation (Vasilije Micic, Tre Mann, Seth Curry, Josh Green), they won't help if the starting five is only there part-time. The Ball-Miller-Bridges-M. Williams spine will probably need some time to find its feet, but it could promise some big plays on a nightly basis. That will require a step up on defense (29e defensive rating) to provide transition play, let Ball excel on the fast play and serve his leaping wingers.
If the sauce takes, these Hornets will have a completely different look than Steve Clifford's lackluster and flavorless ones of the last two years. They still lack the collective experience and depth of talent to hope to return to the Top 8 of the East any time soon. The new president of the franchise Jeff Peterson has not set a deadline to get involved in the fight anyway. But the rather low density for the ninth and tenth places synonymous with play-in can make a first real objective dangle for this squad.
THE WORST SCENARIO
With the talent of its core group at full strength, it is hard to see how the Hornets could once again struggle to only manage twenty wins. However, be careful not to aim too high, too early, when Brandon Miller saw his team in the Top 8 this season. Firstly, because they will have to send the next first round of draft to the Spurs if they were to play in the playoffs. Secondly, because with fragile players, running at full speed to hope to climb a little higher in the Eastern rankings could cost you dearly.
With its key players between the ages of 21 and 26, Charlotte has the luxury of being able to be a little patient. More long-term absences would further delay the building of the foundation that must make the Hornets attractive again in the long run. One is particularly thinking about another truncated season for LaMelo Ball, which would begin to seriously raise questions about his ability to stay healthy for a season for a player who wants to be a star in the league.
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