The 2024-25 NBA season is here! We present the biggest questions, best- and worst-case scenarios, and fantasy predictions for all 30 teams. Enjoy!
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
End of year 2023–24
Off-season moves
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Enrichment: Josh Green, Taj Gibson, Tidjane Saloon, Charlie Brown Jr., DaQuan Jeffries, Duane Washington Jr.
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Subtraction: Davis Bertans, Aleksej Pokusevski, Bryce McGowens, JT Thor
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Complete squad
The big question: Is LaMelo Ball the player to lead the Hornets?
Midway through the 2021-2022 season, many people considered LaMelo Ball's No. 3 overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets to be a rousing success. The 2021 Rookie of the Year became the first member of his draft class – which includes Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton – to participate in the All-Star Game. He was destined for stardom, averaging 20-7-8 and shooting 39% on 7.5 three-pointers per game.
Since then, Ball has played in a total of 58 games, with each of his last two seasons ending with ankle injuries. His five-year, $204 million maximum contract begins this season, which is the fifth year of his career. When he was on the pitch, only Luka Dončić had a higher usage rate. Ball didn't take the ball and didn't shoot effectively.
There is no greater detriment to an offense than an under-performing quarterback being used frequently. And, to put it mildly, Ball wasn't a great defender either. When Ball was on the court, the Hornets displayed the equivalent of the league's worst-rated defense. The offense wasn't much better, and in his 32.3 minutes per game, he outscored them by 8.4 points per 100 possessions. By definition, this is a basketball failure.
It didn't help that Ball's second and third options last season were Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller. Bridges was coming off a one-year domestic violence suspension. Miller, who had out-of-court affairs, was himself a debutant. The three combined for 12.9 points per 100 possessions.
Charlotte is not without talent. Miller looks like he should be a future All-Star. Mark Williams, the team's 2022 lottery pick, could be a solid starting center if he ever stays healthy. The Hornets added French winger Tidjane Salaün, who finished 6th overall this year. They smartly selected three young players – Grant Williams, Josh Green and Tre Mann – who have made trades in the last eight months. This is the skeleton of a basketball team.
But is Ball the one to lead them? The Hornets have no other choice. Even if Miller emerges as the clear face of the franchise this season, Ball was there before him, made an All-Star and acts like he's The Man – with a paycheck to back up his thesis. For better or worse, this is Ball's team.
Update: So far it's been worse. Ball may be a 6-foot-3 point guard with a creative approach to playmaking – the raw tools that made him such a desirable prospect – but in practice he has produced one of the worst assist-to-turnover ratios of any starting point guard . He is not an efficient shooter at either the rim or midfield, and his three-point percentage last season was below league average.
In an August 2021 GQ article titled Ball 'NBA's best young player', former Hornets coach James Borrego admitted that the organization tried to instill professionalism in Ball. “Habits of being punctual. Not skipping a strength session. I'm studying your playbook. Knowing your plays,” he said. “Let's not wait three or four years when he's too far gone and he's already a star. Then you won't be able to drag him away.”
What have we seen from Ball three years and two coaches later that have convinced us that he has improved in this regard? Has he gone too far? That's the question the Hornets need to answer this season. And they better make their decision before the rest of the league or risk losing his trade value.
Best case scenario
Miller is undeniable as the future of the brand. Salaün is also showing promise and suddenly the Hornets have two strong wingers to build their squad around. Ball lifts the spirits of everyone around him, or makes room in the office for someone who can. They discover some useful players from the collection of remaining young talent, and first-year head coach Charles Lee convinces everyone to commit to the defense. The Hornets look like a team ready to make a run, except that doesn't happen and instead they choose another lottery pick.
If everything falls apart
The Ball brand, which is characterized by high usage and low performance, remains in the basketball market. Bridges believes his status as the longest-tenured member of the Hornets also gives him plenty of contacts. As a result, Miller and Salaun's development is stunted. Individualism permeates the locker room, which is reflected in the rest of the young squad. Except the Eastern Conference is so bad that the Hornets sneak into the play-in tournament, where they lose their first-round draft pick to the San Antonio Spurs because they wanted Kai Jones so badly in 2021.
Spin fantasy
Ball has first-round potential if he can stay healthy. He now wears ankle braces to address the ankle problems that have plagued him for the past two seasons. At the end of the second round, Ball's ADP could still be valuable, especially considering his preseason appearance in the league. Bridges advances to the bottom of the fifth round, good for his 58th overall pick in nine leagues.
Miller is the third star in the pipeline. After a strong rookie campaign, he is drafted in the early sixth round. Miller has proven he can be a three-level scorer and a decent perimeter defender, so fantasy managers can feel comfortable taking him in the middle of the round.
Williams' inability to stay healthy causes his fantasy stock to drop until the middle of the ninth inning. I can see the appeal from a positive standpoint, but with an injury history like he has, it's a risky choice. I prefer Zach Edey and even Draymond Green over ADP. — And Tytus
2024–25 schedule
The Hornets have every reason to develop young players and lose games. Take under.
