It seems the Charlotte Hornets have finally emerged from the Kemba Walker-era. Expectations were low coming into the season, but number three pick, LaMelo Ball, helped propel the Hornets to the middle of the eastern conference. Veteran star Gordon Hayward provided stability on offense by creating shots for himself and getting teammates involved.
Some younger players took a step forward this season, including Miles Bridges and Malik Monk. Terry Rozier is slightly on the older side, but he leaped the 20 points per game category. Unfortunately, injuries to Ball and Hayward derailed the Hornets season. Ball was able to come back for the play-in game, but they were routed by the Indiana Pacers 144-117. It was similar to a playoff setting, and the Pacers’ experience showed throughout the game.
Despite the rough end, the Hornets have something to build on moving forward. This free agency they do have some decisions to make regarding Malik Monk and Devonte Graham. They also need to add another center into their rotation. There’s also the long-term question about the ceiling of this group of players.
What to do with Malik Monk and Devonte Graham’s Free Agency?
Monk and Graham created a dilemma for the Hornets. Graham took off last season with his three-point shooting and established himself as an NBA player. Monk struggled to find his footing in the NBA, but he had his best season this year. He knocked down shots and was a bucket-getter for the Hornets.
The issue is that the Hornets already have two starting-caliber guards in Ball and Rozier. Monk and Graham would likely fill an off-the-bench role if they were to return. Both might be looking for an opportunity where they would get more playing time.
The Hornets have restricted free agency rights over Monk and Graham, but they might be hesitant to match a contract they deem an overpay for a bench player. It’s unlikely that both guys return to the Hornets. They may decide to retain one as a spark off the bench if the price is right.
The bottom line is the Hornets have a similar movement three-point shooter already in Terry Rozier under contract. Retaining Monk and or Graham would be a bit repetitive. LaMelo Ball is also going to absorb a ton of guard minutes, limiting Monk and Graham’s minutes.
Charlotte could utilize a sign-and-trade to get value back for Monk and Graham since they are restricted free agents. Shooting is at a premium throughout the league, and both of these guys are elite shooters and possess some shot-creating abilities.
How can the Hornets fill the center position?
One of the areas of weakness for the Hornets this season was at the center position. Cody Zeller is a solid starting center, but he doesn’t have the vertical pop to catch lobs or defend the rim. To take advantage of LaMelo Ball’s vision, the Hornets should add a vertical threat on offense. The Hornets’ perimeter defense isn’t strong either, so having a shot blocker on the backline could clean up some mistakes.
Bismack Biyombo was the Hornets backup big this season. He earned his spot in the NBA after an enormous 2015-2016 defensive playoff performance with the Toronto Raptors. At this point in his career, however, his explosiveness is declining while already being undersized. He can set the occasional hard screen offensively, but he doesn’t provide much of anything in terms of finishing.
It might be worth keeping Biyombo as a veteran leadership presence as it appears the other players enjoy being around him. Still, they should also look to add a starting-caliber center and move Zeller to a bench role.
The Hornets drafted Vernon Carey Jr. in the second round. He’s an offensive-minded center who blends bully ball with a faceup game. He can stretch the floor off the pick and roll or finish inside. The issue with Carey Jr. is defense. He’s slow laterally, and like many young bigs, he struggles to defend in space and understand NBA defensive concepts. He can become an exciting piece down the road, but he isn’t ready to start yet.
Richaun Holmes from the Sacramento Kings could be a great fit. He has the bounciness to catch lobs, but he can shoot the mid-range and has some craft around the rim with his floater game. While he had his breakout season on the King, they may not want to commit money since he’s a bit older. It’s also been reported that he is looking for a contract around the four-year $80 million range.
Defensively, the Kings were a dumpster fire this year, but their “best” lineups consisted of Holmes at center. He’s pretty athletic and mobile, which allows him to guard pick and roll ball-handlers when they get downhill. His explosiveness also will enable him to challenge shots at the rim vertically.
Holmes seems like the perfect versatile big to pair with LaMelo Ball and Gordan Hayward.
What’s the ceiling of this iteration of the Hornets?
The Hornets timeline got a boost this season with the emergence of LaMelo Ball and the addition of Gordon Hayward. The Hayward contract this past offseason looked like a mistake at first, but he was a reliable offensive weapon and almost 20 points per game and 4.6 assists along with perimeter defense at the wing. They have two high-level offensive engines and some other promising players, which begs the question, what’s the ceiling of this group?
Some younger players made some strides this year. Miles Bridges is a talented wing player who pairs insane leaping ability with a near 50/40/90 shooting split. He can also act as a point of attack defender and bother the opposing guard. He looks like a long-term piece for the Hornets, who can fill in the three and four spot next to Gordon Hayward. Terry Rozier looks excellent as an off-ball guy who can run off screens to get three-point looks. He can also put the ball on the ground and make plays.
In the end, it all depends on how LaMelo Ball develops. He has the potential to become a superstar player if he can figure out how to score consistently. He only averaged 3.2 free throw attempts per game. With his usage level, the next step to getting scoring numbers up is getting to the line. His finishing tends to stray away from contact as he likes to switch hands to get a clean look at the rim. He also utilizes a floater in the pick and roll, which is hard to guard but a tough shot to make.
Luckily, the playmaking and intuition come naturally to him, which is the tricky part. If he doesn’t get his scoring all the way there, the Hornets might want to add a more downhill scorer. They could be a top-three seed in the east if Ball continues to add to his game as a scorer. If this is close to his ceiling as a shot-maker, the Hornets will likely be more of a four, five, or six seed in the east.
A Strong Trajectory
The Hornets look positioned to be a perennial playoff contender for the next decade for the first time since the 2015-2016 season with Kemba Walker, Al Jefferson, Nicholas Batum, and Jeremy Lin. With a new group of guys (except for Cody Zeller possibly), it appears the Hornets will make a return to the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The overall trajectory of the franchise is looking positive. Ball’s unselfish style of play rubbed off on his teammates this year. That type of chemistry translates to winning basketball. Offensively, they have the right pieces to have a top-ten offense. The Hornets need to shore themselves up defensively in terms of personnel and execution.
While they may not end up dominating the NBA, the Hornets will have the chance to solidify themselves as a playoff contender over the next few seasons.
