Coming off of a disappointing season, the Charlotte Hornets will have to address a lot of problems this summer if they want to bounce back next year.
With a record of only 36-46 this season, the Charlotte Hornets were one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA. They lost 12 more games than they had the previous year. In order to return to their winning ways, the team will need to answer a number of questions this offseason.
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Kemba Walker was one of the lone bright spots for Charlotte after they struggled for a majority of the season. Injuries to key players led to long losing streak which ultimately killed their playoff hopes. Even though the rest of the league is watching the postseason, the Hornets’ offseason begins now.
The NBA Draft and free agency will be here before we know it. Players and coaches need to start their work early as they have a lot to improve on this summer. This will be one of the most important offseasons in recent memory for Charlotte.
The following concerns aren’t the only ones for the Hornets but they are arguably the most pressing issues at hand. It is difficult to pinpoint solutions to the team’s problems but recognizing concerns is the first step towards finding answers.
It is difficult to pinpoint solutions to the team’s problems but recognizing concerns is the first step towards finding answers.
Ballin on a Budget
The key pieces are there for Charlotte.
They have the formula for a winning team but they are still a few players away from truly becoming a perennial playoff franchise. The Hornets need to get better, the problem with that is that they don’t have a lot of cap space. With six players earning at least $12 million next season, their options will be limited in free agency. (Spotrac.com)
With the salary cap being set at $101 million for next year, Charlotte doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room. They have almost no money to spend but they still need to get better. One of the only ways the Hornets will be able to sign a quality player will be with their mid-level exception. Aside from that, they have nine players with guaranteed contracts so the roster you see now will likely be what you’ll get at the start of next season barring any trades.
This means that Rich Cho will need to find diamonds in the rough. The Hornets need to sign difference makers on cheap contracts like they did with Jeremy Lin two years ago. Although that is unlikely and extremely difficult, there will be players like that in free agency. They need to find veteran guys who are coming off of down seasons and looking to rebuild their reputation. Charlotte tried to do this with Ramon Sessions and Roy Hibbert but neither of those panned out.
Cho has his work cut out for him. He already admitted that they will be looking for a backup point guard and an interior defender this offseason. Mainly, the Hornets need to improve their bench. Time and time again the second unit would let the starters down this past season.
Nicolas Batum Needs to be More Aggressive
Many criticize Nic for not being a true secondary option. The fact of the matter is that he isn’t a bad Robin to Kemba Walker’s Batman. He was one of only six players in the entire league to average 15+ points per game, six+ rebounds and five+ assists per game this past season. (NBA.com)
The only other players to put up those numbers were Russell Westbrook, James Harden, LeBron James, Jimmy Butler and Giannis Antetokounmpo. His 15.1 PPG doesn’t compare to most secondary scoring options around the league but his all-around play evens that out. Nic’s problem is that he only averaged 12.7 shot attempts per game which ranked 60th in the NBA. (NBA.com)
Kemba averaged 18.3 shots per game so Batum needs to up his total to around that mark. Not that he should shoot as much as Walker but when Nicolas is aggressive he plays better. Far too often, he would defer on the offensive end. He is a talented player and Charlotte doesn’t have a lot of players who can create their own shots.
Batum is skipping Eurobasket 2017 with France and is instead committing the entire summer to the Hornets so hopefully, we will see the results in his play next season. The Hornets need more consistent scorers. If Nic is more aggressive and creates more shots for himself, it will ultimately help the team as a whole.
Can Their Defense Bounce Back?
The Hornets’ calling card let them down this past season.
Charlotte’s been known for their lockdown defense in recent years. They ranked 13th in opponents points per game and 14th in defense rating this season. Compare that to their top-10 finished in both categories since Steve Clifford took over in 2013.
Coach Clifford made it a priority to point out the team’s poor defense once the season was over. In his exit interview, he said “Our offense is not the problem, it was the defense,” Clifford said. “The defense didn’t get better.” (NBA.com) Charlotte’ head coach also spent most of the season calling out his player’s lack of effort on the defensive end after games.
Defense starts on the perimeter and that’s where the Hornets struggled. They were the sixth-worst team in the league at defending the three as opponents made 36.9% of their shots from deep. This was a result of opposing players blowing by their defenders then kicking out to open shooters throughout the season.
MKG’s Jump Shot
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist‘s jump shot has been a concern for the Hornets since he was drafted in 2012.
After a promising campaign in 2015, MKG’s shooting regressed. He made 3-7 three’s (42.9%) two years ago but that number dipped to only 1-9 (11.1%) this past season. His shooting ability, or lack thereof, is making it more and more difficult for Charlotte to play him. Even though he adds energy, defense and rebounding, it may be time for the team to cut ties with MKG.
You need to shoot in order to be a viable threat in today’s NBA. If Michael can not improve his shooting, the Hornets should think about moving him in order to get a starting small forward who can add more shooting. Although, I don’t see that happening because of how much the team has invested in him and how much Steve Clifford loves his tenacity.
Next: Hornets' Top-10 Plays of 2016-17 Season
Whatever the case is, MKG needs to continue to work tirelessly on his jump shot. His form looks like it will never get any better but he did show that he could knock down midrange jumpers with some consistency last season. That is a small improvement but an improvement nonetheless.