Buzz City Beat is Swarm and Sting’s one stop for the latest and greatest news and stories from around the web about the Charlotte Hornets.
Pete Guelli tweeted that Kemba Walker and Frank Kaminsky were both looking great in the gym this week. In this edition of Buzz City Beat, we look at why the Charlotte Hornets could be a surprise team this season, Jeremy Lamb spending this summer in the gym and the team’s attempt to bounce back.
Hornets could be a surprise team in 2017-18 (BasketballInsiders.com)
"After a down year, the Charlotte Hornets will look to rebound during the 2017 season. With health on their side and some new additions to the roster, they may very well be able to do it."
Charlotte was among the five teams listed that could surprise people this season with Minnesota, New Orleans, the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana also being named. I would argue that the Hornets are the most underrated team of the bunch. The Timberwolves will be getting national attention because of their young stars and the addition of Jimmy Butler while NO has two top-15 players and LA is a big market.
As for the Pacers, they could breakout and be better than expected but they will most likely miss the playoffs in a weak Eastern Conference after losing Paul George. The Queen City franchise is being talked about as a potential playoff team but I think they are the darkhorse in the East. Depending on matchups, Charlotte could make a run and truly shock people around the NBA.
Jeremy Lamb’s working hard to improve this summer (CharlotteObserver.com)
"Clifford says guard-forward Jeremy Lamb has applied himself this summer as much as any Hornet. “I’m really excited about what he’s done and where he’s at,”"
Even after a career-best season, Lamb is still working hard to improve his game. Now, more than ever, he needs to prove himself in the Hornets’ rotation. The additions of Malik Monk and Dwayne Bacon coupled with the emergence of Treveon Graham crowds Charlotte’s wing rotation and could leave Jeremy as the odd man out.
Steve Clifford has had his problems with Lamb in the past but the former UCONN guard will get ample minutes at the start of the season and yet another chance to prove himself. Hopefully the extra work this offseason will help improve Jeremy’s three-point shooting after only knicking down 28.1% from deep last year.
Charlotte looks to bounce back behind Monk and Howard (NBA.com)
"Malik Monk fell to the Hornets at No. 11 in the Draft and everyone in the basketball universe thought it was a solid fit. Days before that, though, the Hornets traded for Howard … and almost everyone outside of the organization thought it was a reach (and that’s putting it kindly)."
Next: What if LeBron joins Charlotte in 2018?
Although Kemba Walker is the Hornets’ best player, the team will need their new additions to help lead them back to the playoffs. The same group of players from last year’s team already proved that they couldn’t make the postseason on their own but the inclusion of Dwight Howard, Malik Monk and Michael Carter-Williams will be enough to compete in the East.