Written By: Paul Egbeyemi
Edited By: Jack Hinde & Nabil Haider
The Charlotte Hornets have had a disappointing few seasons compared to what they were hoping to achieve. Within the 6 season span from 2015 to 2020, they only managed one 6th seed playoff berth, which resulted in a first round loss. The team had been losing talent continuously over the years, such as Al Jefferson, Dwight Howard, and Gerald Wallace, but the one that hurt the most was the loss of Kemba Walker to the Boston Celtics at the start of 2019 free agency. The franchise-leading scorer was coming off a magnificent All-Star and All-NBA season, so his absence was a major wake-up call for the team. Despite their constant shortcomings, they aren't the worst team in the NBA, or even in their conference, but they lack the true star power to continue moving further ahead. This leaves the team with consistently average rankings, which leads to average draft picks and seemingly little potential for growth.
The current status of their team is mediocre, and while names such as Devonte Graham and Terry Rozier helped fill stat sheets last season, it did not translate into a winning record or a playoff appearance. One could ask what the purpose is in dedicating a whole article to a currently mediocre team, and the answer to that is potential. The recent Hornets draft showed great promise, as they were able to fill needs and generate excitement for the next season. Their first pick was the already notorious LaMelo Ball, who will help fill the team's need for much needed star power. LaMelo comes from the well known Ball Family, who have already produced a promising point guard in Lonzo Ball. LaMelo is a playmaker and passer who has an impressive range and extreme upside. In his NBL Australian League games he put up a near triple double average with 17 points, 6.8 assists and 7.6 rebounds a game. Weighing in at 6’7 and 190lbs, he is known for his flashy highlight plays and deep three point shots, which can change the momentum of a game at any moment. This type of play style can help bring some much needed attention to the Hornets, who have been overlooked for far too long in today’s NBA.
The next draft pick for the Hornets this year was Vernon Carey Jr., who was the first of two second round selections. He played his one-and-done college year at Duke, averaging 17.8 points 8.8 rebounds per game in 31 total games played. Carey Jr. — standing at 6’10 — brings much needed rim protection to the Hornets team, and considering the unsure return of free agent center Bismack Biyombo, Carey can hold a very significant role for the team. He is also very mobile despite weighing 270lbs, which enables him to attack the boards for critical offensive rebounds.
The final Hornets draft pic was Grant Riller, who averaged 21.9 points in his NCAA showings last season. He was a proven NCAA scorer, as he shot just under 50% from the field, and could provide valuable points off the bench. As the 56th overall pick in the draft he isn’t expected to receive much play time in 2020, especially sitting behind a long line of Hornets guards in Rozier, Ball, Graham, and Malik Monk. However, as such a talented scorer for a division one school, Riller could become a more involved piece in the Hornets future as he continues to develop.
The draft presented a threshold of need-filling and untapped potential for the team, but that is not the only area where the Hornets showed promise. Their 2020 free agency helped garner even more attention for the team, as the Hornets entered with $84 million in cap room for free agents, and most notably signed NBA All-Star Gordon Hayward to a 4 year, $120 million dollar deal. Despite his major leg and ankle injuries in the last few seasons, he still put up an impressive average of 17.5 points a game, with 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists in last year's shortened 52 game NBA season, all while working as the Celtics fourth option. Gordon will assume a starting role at either of the forward positions, and his fundamental and efficient playstyle will benefit the team in many ways. This expensive acquisition brings a veteran player with 4 years of playoff experience to an inexperienced team. Many speculated that perhaps the $30 million a year price tag for Hayward’s arrival was too high, but it only expands the franchise’s options for years to come.
The Hornets tied for ninth seed in the Eastern Conference last year, and with the new rush of talent brought onto the roster, they are expected to build on that position. Their exciting mix of a young roster and tens of millions of dollars in cap space could be enough to attract even bigger names to the small market franchise in the seasons to come. Fans of the Charlotte Hornets have plenty to look forward to in the following NBA seasons, and only time will tell what they can achieve.
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