Is there a sense of urgency surrounding the Charlotte Hornets?
With the moves the Charlotte Hornets have made recently, it looks like they are in a win-now mode rather than a long-term build.
There’s a lot of hype around the Queen City and for good reason. The Charlotte Hornets seem to be making all the right moves in the order to challenge the top teams in the East. While optimism may be high, one has to wonder how large of a window this current team has. With aging stars, bloated contracts, and the future of Kemba Walker uncertain, should there be a sense of urgency?
The NBA, more than other sports, always seems to be in flux. Nothing is certain, anything can change, and there are very few guarantees. This offseason is certainly a testament to that. Usually rather quiet in terms of noteworthy front office news, the Charlotte Hornets have made some big moves of their own.
Trading for Dwight Howard, drafting Malik Monk, and signing Michael Carter-Williams are all moves that could help the Hornets get back to the playoffs. In a weakened Eastern Conference, it does seem the Hornets are poised for success. The real question is: for how long?
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It’s a sad fact of life that we all have to get old. The same holds true for athletes. In fact, the Hornets have three players aged 29 or older. That might not seem that bad, but given the fact that two players the team is expected to depend upon a great deal are actually older than the Hornets franchise itself, then it starts to put into perspective how short of a window those players have in which to contribute.
The Hornets aren’t exactly over the hill, but several key players are getting up there. Can the Hornets strike a balance mixing experience and youth?
Dwight Howard will be 32 this year. That’s still relatively young. You have to remember, though, that he’s put 13 years into this league to this point. That’s a lot of wear and tear for a guy who is going to be a focal point in the team’s success. Marvin Williams will be 31. Again, relatively young, but 12 years in the league takes quite the toll.
Kemba Walker, at age 27, has already put 6 years into the league. Comparatively, that’s not a lot, but his current contract is up in two years. Who’s to say he won’t explore other options at that point?
Age then brings up contracts. The older players get, the more scrutiny high-value contracts get. The Hornets already have salary cap issues. With a good bit of that being dedicated to older players, it puts more pressure on the organization to win now, rather than later.
So, what of Kemba? Well, most seem to think he will end up staying in Charlotte if the team is willing to pay. He seems to like the area and what the team has built around him. If the team doesn’t improve, however, one could see the point guard out of Connecticut testing the free agent waters.
Kemba is a competitor and a title is most likely his ultimate aspiration. If he doesn’t see his career ascending much in Charlotte, he might want to move to greener pastures. Given the often chaotic nature of NBA free agency, however, assumptions are worth very little.
Next: Can Monk win Rookie of the Year honors?
The future is always difficult to discern. In basketball, it’s nigh impossible. Yet, one has to assume that this offseason has shown that the Hornets are built for the immediate future. Whether or not they can cash in on these investments remains to be seen. One thing is for sure; Charlotte is buzzing with anticipation.