Charlotte Hornets: X Factor

The upcoming NBA season is just around the corner, and that means it’s prime time for speculation and analyzation of every team from every angle. Most successful teams have that one guy that emerges and plays well above expectations, catapulting his club to the top. Some call it The X Factor. For last season’s champions, the San Antonio Spurs, that guy was Kawhi Leonard. So, this raises a question: who can be that guy for the Charlotte Hornets?

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We already know that guys like Al Jefferson, Lance Stephenson, and Kemba Walker are going to produce night in and night out, so who will step up and be the difference maker? Here’s a list of 5 potential game-changers for the Hornets. Share who your pick for the Charlotte Hornets’ X Factor is in the comments section below!

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – Small Forward

Sep 29, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) during Media Day at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

I know, I know, he’s a multi-year starter, hardly a “breakout” candidate. However, if you’ve seen the videos pop up recently of MKG’s new and improved shot, you begin to understand. Many of you may remember Kidd-Gilchrist’s performance in Game 2 of Charlotte’s playoff series against the Miami Heat. He went off for 22 points and, most impressively, he did so while manning LeBron James for the majority of the contest. While his performance led to a close 101-97 loss for the then Bobcats, this contest made Charlotte look like they could actually compete with the reigning champs, largely because of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. If MKG could perform offensively like this more consistently, that would be a huge boost for the Buzz City squad.

Cody Zeller – Power Forward/Center

Sep 29, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Cody Zeller (40) during Media Day at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

With the recent reports that he will see some time relieving Big Al at the center position, Cody Zeller just became even more important. Last season, the former Indiana Hoosier put up a performance that could best be described as a mixed bag. I like to refer to him as two separate players: Pre All-Star Game Zeller and Post All-Star Game Zeller. Pre All-Star Game Zeller was timid, indecisive, and, quite frankly, looked afraid of the moment whenever he was on the court. While Post All-Star Game Zeller still had his fair share of flaws, he was vastly improved from his former self. With an additional offseason of work under his belt, Cody Zeller is poised to build off of his strong finish and be a difference-maker for the revamped Hornets.

Gerald Henderson – Shooting Guard/Small Forward

Sep 29, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Gerald Henderson (9) during Media Day at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Gerald Henderson is the consensus pick to be the 6th man for the Hornets, and only time will tell how much (or how little) he embraces that role. The veteran Henderson has had a career that can best be summed up as average. He’s one of those guys that doesn’t do anything particularly well, but does just about everything well enough. I’ve always said he shouldn’t be a starter on an NBA team, at least not a team that wants to make a playoff run. That being said, I love him as the role of 6th man. A smart, athletic, veteran player coming off of your bench is one of the most underrated assets in the NBA. The Hornets’ bench is probably the most improved aspect of the team, and could be the most important, largely because of Gerald Henderson.

Noah Vonleh – Power Forward

Sep 29, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Noah Vonleh (11) during Media Day at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Noah Vonleh was an absolute steal for the Charlotte Hornets. Not only was it a long-shot for the Hornets to end up with the 9th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft (from the Detroit Pistons), but it was even more surprising that the Indiana star fell all the way to the 9th slot. Vonleh, who just turned 19 in August, is extremely raw. While his potential is out of this world, he’s not really expected to contribute much in his first year, especially after the performance he turned in during the Summer League. With expectations pretty low, he’s in position to be a pleasant surprise; after all, there’s a reason he was widely projected to be a top 5 pick in the draft. With his freakish body and ability to stretch the floor, he could surprise everyone with a breakout performance far sooner than expected.

Brian Roberts – Point Guard

Sep 29, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Brian Roberts (22) during Media Day at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Brian Roberts is a relatively forgotten signing in the Queen City, making him the perfect candidate for the Hornets’ X Factor. The Charlotte bench last season struggled to get much going just about any time they were on the court, leading to some stretches that were painful to watch. A big part of the problem (in the second half of the season) was that backup point guard, Luke Ridnour, was just not very good. This led to droughts on the offensive side of the ball, and frequent comebacks by the opposition. Brian Roberts is a huge upgrade from Ridnour, one that will lead to more consistent offensive production, making a massive impact to the team.

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Charlotte Hornets: Who is the X Factor?

By Chris Piemonte | Oct 7, 2014