Cody Zeller
When healthy, I believe that Cody Zeller is one of the more underrated centers in all of basketball. He’s great in the pick-and-roll, he’s a good finisher and defender, but he just hasn’t been able to stay on the court. He played in 49 games last season, averaging 10.1 points and 6.8 rebounds.
Staying healthy will be the biggest key for him during the 2019-20 season. He’s one of the best players on the team, so the Hornets need him out there. If he can stay healthy, I can see him building off his on-court play from last season and having another good season.
He’s going to start at center and will be a key contributor for the Hornets. They rely on his screen setting, aggressive rolling and smart play style. He also showed signs last seasons of being able to slowly extend his range, so hopefully he can continue to improve from the perimeter.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Zeller, like Williams, is a trade candidate this season. Charlotte will likely be rebuilding and if they can land some assets for him, it’s something they will have to consider. Regardless, I think he’s due for a good, healthy season.
It may be a tough season for the Charlotte Hornets in 2019-20, but I look forward to seeing continued growth from these players during the season. Player development is crucial for this franchise at the moment.