Even though we have only just crept into December, there have been plenty of people already calling the Hornets’ season as done, with the team the unfortunate owner of one of the worst records in the entire NBA. There is still a long time to go before we know the playoff teams, but it is starting to feel as though Charlotte will miss out again.
This is not unfamiliar territory, though. Since Charlotte regained its Hornets moniker just over ten years ago, there has only been one postseason series – a loss to the Heat in 2016. The wins total has been decreasing for the last few years and if you were putting together a list of the best offshore sportsbooks, there would be very few backing the Hornets to feature anywhere near a championship game anytime soon.
Can the Hornets turn this malaise around, though? There is a franchise player and some good recent draft picks, so why is everything so disappointing? What will it take for the Charlotte Hornets to compete in the NBA?
Up the Assists
If you have watched any Hornets games this year, you will know that there have been some real horror shows. Charlotte fans may be a little immune after the continued disappointment of the last decade or so, but some of the games this year have been shockingly bad. But when things go right, they go right.
One of the reasons for that sliver of optimism is that when the Hornets do play well, the points have usually been shared around the team. You wouldn’t begrudge a player deciding to go solo when things are bad, but it has been noticeable that the players are more than happy to give up a good shot for someone else to make a great shot. Upping those assists stats could be the way to bring the Hornets back into contention.
Listen to the Coach
That last plus point might not be entirely down to Charles Lee, but the coach has to be given some plaudits for the way he is able to get these players to perform. The sign of a good coach is seeing the team play well immediately after a string of losses. Charles Lee seems able to do that – and the fact that the players listen to him has to be a good thing.
With so many egos taking over around the league, the fact that Charlotte has a roster of players willing to listen to a coach when things are not going so well bodes well for the future. If the Hornets can keep that up, the overall team dynamic will only improve – hopefully leading to even more wins.
Use the Roster
Charles Lee hasn’t always been able to play his dream starting five. Even when the players have all been available, he has sometimes changed things up a little and surprised a few people. This is another Lee move to be applauded. Using the roster to its fullest capabilities is the sign of a good team – not a desperate act.
Making sure that every player on the roster receives enough minutes to prove themselves not only gives Charlotte the best chance of winning a game, but it also allows the coach to see if anyone from the bench is ready to step up. Giving those players some important minutes can only help the team’s chances further down the track.
Give the Ball to Kon
That being said, it is getting clearer that the focus of the Charlotte Hornets team is beginning to shift. LaMelo Ball has been the go-to guy for a while now, but this year, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel are beginning to stand out. Kon, in particular, is looking to be the real deal, with his shooting from beyond the arc adding a whole new edge to Charlotte’s offense.
It is understandable that most of the draft attention was centered on Cooper Flagg, but Knueppel is showing just why Duke did so well last year – and that the Blue Devils were not a one-man team. This is where the future of the Hornets lies, and giving the ball to Kon could be a sure-fire way for the team to start challenging for a playoff spot.
Repeat Draft Success
Even the most hardcore, partisan Hornets fan has become all too familiar with giving up on their dreams of postseason action early on in the year. The honest truth is that Charlotte probably won’t be making the playoffs this season either. But it is not just the performances of Kon Knueppel that bring hope for the future. This year’s draft has been a success in other ways.
There was some concern about the lack of a center for the Hornets this year, but Ryan Kalkbrenner is beginning to look like one of the steals of the draft. Charlotte took him from Creighton with the 34th overall pick, and his numbers are very impressive. If the Hornets can do as well in the 2026 NBA Draft, there could be a very strong roster going into next season.
LaMelo Future
The big question about the potential success of the Hornets usually centers on LaMelo Ball. After being taken with the third pick of the 2020 draft, there were high hopes that he would turn the franchise around. There have been high points, of course, but the last three years have seen a lot of injuries as well.
There have been more games missed than played and, with the rumors coming out about his openness to a trade, Charlotte needs to really think about how that eventuality could work out for the franchise. The new recruits have shown there is potential there, and Brandon Miller could also step up as a centerpiece player. LaMelo leaving would open up some new possibilities for the entire franchise and possibly turn it into a team that really competes.