After losing in the play-in tournament each of the last two seasons, the Charlotte Hornets decided to shake things up in depth this offseason. The team left head coach James Borrego after four years and replaced him with a familiar face – Steve Clifford, who previously coached the team from 2013 to 2018. The Hornets have made the playoffs twice under Clifford, and they hope to add to that number in the future, as the team hasn’t qualified for the playoffs since 2016.
Making the playoffs won’t be easy in a competitive Eastern Conference, but third-year guard LaMelo Ball provides the organization with a major reason for optimism. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2021, Ball made his first-team All-Star last season, and he was one of five NBA players to average more than 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds per performance. If the Hornets are going to really make a splash this season, they’ll need Ball to take another step forward.
You can’t properly discuss Charlotte’s prospects without mentioning the uncertainty surrounding Miles Bridges’ future with the franchise. Bridges is currently awaiting court proceedings after being charged with three counts of domestic violence. Bridges pleaded not guilty at the expense. He was the Hornets’ leading scorer last season, averaging 20.2 points, to go along with 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
Here’s a quick look at Charlotte’s offseason and a preview of what things will look like when the 2022-23 season kicks off.
Key changes
Listing
- LaMelo Ball, PG (21)
- James Bouknight, SG (22)
- Miles Bridges, SF (24)
- Gordon Hayward, SF (32)
- Kai Jones, PF (21)
- Mark Williams, C (20)
- J.T. Thor, FP (20)
- Cody Martin, SF (26)
- Jalen McDaniels, FP (24)
- Bryce McGowens, SG (19)
- Kelly Oubre Jr., SG (26)
- Mason Plumlee, C (32)
- Terry Rozier, SG (28)
- Nick Richards, C (24)
- Dennis Smith Jr., PG (24)
- Isaiah Whaley, PF (24)
Top of the page: Ball control
As good as he was last season, there’s still plenty of room for growth when it comes to LaMelo Ball’s game, which is to be expected since he’s only 21 years old. He can certainly improve defensively, where he is inclined to play and get out of position, and in turn allow penetration. Given his size and athleticism, Ball has the tools to be a solid defender, he just needs to buckle up and commit more on that side of the ball.
Ball’s shot selection can also be improved, as he tends to make ill-advised attempts. While he shot a respectable 38% from long range last season, he only converted his two-point attempts into a 46% clip, which was below the league average. Finally, Ball could take better care of the ball. He was 10th in the NBA with 3.3 turnovers per game last season.
Next step: eyes on the youngest
Ball obviously isn’t the only player on Charlotte’s roster who has plenty of room to grow. The Hornets will also seek the development of other young players like James Bouknight, PJ Washington and Jaden McDaniels. All three of these players are under 24 and could all see an increased role in the upcoming campaign. They have all shown their potential in the past, and they will have to take advantage of every opportunity on the pitch presented to them.
It will also be interesting to see how much game time rookie great Mark Williams gets after the Hornets used their first-round pick against him. He averaged 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for Duke last season. Williams was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, which is expected to make him a strong contender in Charlotte, as the Hornets definitely need help doing that. They were 22nd in defensive rankings last year.
One more thing: Hayward’s health
The Hornets really need Gordon Hayward to stay healthy this season, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Miles Bridges’ future with the team. If Bridges isn’t around, Hayward will have to take on a bigger burden when it comes to scoring – something he’s still capable of. when he’s on the ground. Last season, Hayward was one of five small forwards to average more than 15 points, four rebounds and three assists per game while shooting more than 45 percent from the floor. The problem is, he appeared in less than 50 games in each of his first two seasons in Charlotte. The Hornets obviously hope that trend doesn’t continue.
Key games
Hornets at Spurs, Oct. 19: It’s the first game of the season for the Hornets, and it gives them the opportunity to start the season on the right foot. Spurs shouldn’t be very good, to put it mildly, so Charlotte should be able to capitalize. As a team with playoff aspirations, the Hornets should want to start the season with a win.
Hornets at Hawks, October 23: It was the Hawks who eliminated Charlotte in the qualifying tournament last season, so this will serve as a kind of rematch for the Hornets. They won’t have to wait too long for their retaliation, as it’s their third game of the season.
Warriors at Hornets, October 29: The Warriors are the defending champions, so this game will give the Hornets a chance to compete against the best. The Hornets won one of the two games they played against Golden State last season, so maybe they can pull off another win. Plus, since the game is in Charlotte, it will give Hornets fans a chance to try to convince Steph Curry to eventually join the team – a remote possibility that the star guard discussed previously.