Since Cody Zeller is getting closer to returning, what should the Charlotte Hornets and fans expect from him?
The Charlotte Hornets have played well, but the team needs to start thinking about what they’re going to do once Cody Zeller is healthy. Zeller has been out since the first game of the season with a broken finger on his left hand.
Before I get started, I want to say that I am a fan of Zeller, but it’s time to really think about what’s best for him. Zeller has been plagued with various injuries over the past few seasons, but no one expected him to get hurt on opening night. Zeller finished that game with six points and three rebounds.
More from Swarm and Sting
- Hornets: Where does Brandon Miller’s ceiling rank among other rookies?
- Charlotte Hornets grade out mostly average in position-by-position ranking
- Hornets News: P.J. Washington makes bold statement on Brandon Miller
- Grade the mock trade: Hornets snag Tyler Herro, flip Gordon Hayward
- Will the Charlotte Hornets be in the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery?
Zeller had surgery right after on Christmas Eve and has been recovering since then. Around that time. Zeller told the Charlotte Observer that it could be a couple of weeks before he returns. He’s concerned about letting the bone heal for the correct amount of time.
Since being injured, Bismack Biyombo has done a superb job at being the Hornets’ starting center. As a starter, Biyombo has averaged 7.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.
Biyombo may not be the best center in the league, but he’s been getting the job done for the Hornets, which leads to this question: Who will the Hornets go with as the starter for the rest of the season?
Last season, Biyombo and Zeller shared a lot of playing time in the starting lineup. This especially happened after Zeller came back from a small injury last season. The Hornets may lean more toward Biyombo being the primary starter since Zeller is coming back.
If the Hornets were to bring Zeller back, it would likely affect Charlotte’s nine-man rotation. The Hornets would likely make it a ten-man one again, but it would make a huge impact on when the team also brings in PJ Washington, who’s played a lot at center when Biyombo is on the bench.
It should also be noted that Zeller will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. This means that the Hornets could look to buy-out his contract or even trade him to another team. We saw this happen to many of the team’s veterans last season midway through the year.
Fans could expect to see Zeller return in the coming week. Coach James Borrego likes Zeller, so he’ll likely be thrown into the rotation. How much of this change could affect the rotation?
The Hornets may not move Zeller, but the team needs to have a solid plan in place for when he returns. The Hornets are currently on a four-game winning streak, and they shouldn’t look to mess up their groove.