We’re firmly in the Lamelo Ball era now in the Queen City, how far can this absolute electric factory (as narrated by Eric Collins) go in a loaded Eastern Conference?
Notable Additions/Subtractions
Additions: Kelly Oubre Jr. (2yr/$26.4m), Ish Smith (2yr/1yr guaranteed; $4.5m)
Subtractions: Devonte’ Graham (New Orleans), Malik Monk (Los Angeles Lakers), Cody Zeller (Portland)
Last Season’s Record: 33-39 (10th in the East)
Projected First Two Rotations:
Starters: L. Ball, T. Rozier, G. Hayward, P.J. Washington, M. Plumlee
Second Unit: C. Martin, J. Bouknight, K. Oubre Jr., M. Bridges, K. Jones/V. Carey Jr.
So right off the bat, outside of losing a primary ball handler in Devonte’ Graham, the Hornets roster is very well constructed to be better-than-decent now, and very good in the next 3-5 years, potentially even sooner. Lamelo Ball gives them an identity, playing at a ruthless pace and throwing lobs all over the court.
His backcourt running mate, Terry Rozier, inked a 4 year contract over the summer, paying him $97m over that span. This decision seemingly set that backcourt in stone, and gave Rozier the nod over Graham, who was a part of the trade that sent Lonzo Ball to Chicago. Gordon Hayward is making a fairly disgusting amount of money, as he’s tended to do over his career up to this point, and teams know what they’re getting with him, but 14-22ppg will be helpful, even if it’s not worth that horrific amount of salary space. The frontcourt of Washington and Plumlee will look largely similar as compared to Washington and Cody Zeller from a year ago.
The second unit dynamism will also be very apparent. The one hole is a primary ball handler in that second rotation, but in today’s era of positionless basketball, there’s a world where much of the handling can be done by people like Oubre, rookie James Bouknight, and even Miles Bridges. Now that’s not to say that Terry Rozier won’t see runs with them, as his veteran savvy and playmaking will sometimes be necessary. You also know that there will be plenty of Ball/Bridges minutes together, Eric Collins wouldn’t have it any other way.
Bouknight falling to pick eleven in this past summer’s NBA draft was talked about as a steal then, and will likely continue to be going forward; especially with his complimentary playstyle to many of the Hornets’ existing players and the players who will be a part of Michael Jordan and James Borrego’s vision going forward. This summer he poured in nearly 17 a game, to go with four assists and three boards. He showed flashes of both the jump shot and athletic, “blow-by” ability that was advertised coming out of his second year at UConn.
Pairing up with Bouknight is Texas’ Kai Jones, a 6’11”, 220lb super freak athlete who Charlotte traded a future first for to yoink from the Knicks after they picked him at 19. The Knicks, just trying to hoard Texas freaks, of course went on to pick Jericho Sims in the second round. Jones’ athleticism was on full display all summer, having perhaps more individual clips go viral than anyone save maybe Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas. He added 10 points and 9 and a half rebounds per contest, as well as an assist and a half and a block. Both of these two will likely see many minutes in the second unit, with Jones splitting time with former Duke standout Vernon Carey Jr. in the frontcourt.
Holy shit now that I’m sitting here writing this, there’s only one player who had decidedly more social media clips than Kai Jones. Lamelo’s big brother Liangelo, who arrived on the scene in Las Vegas during Summer League, showing that he deserves a shot in the league, as well as pro-looking court awareness and three-point shooting. Word is still out if he will make the team or not, but Boston’s Jayson Tatum said he deserves an NBA roster spot.
With or without Liangelo, between Lamelo, Miles Bridges, Kai Jones, and Eric Collins (who I’ve referenced three times now, if you don’t know him, he’s the Hornets play by play guy, best in the biz), there’s no doubt the Hornets will be social media stars this season. Soon to be seen is if they can translate vitality to wins.
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