Charlotte Hornets: Rebuilding from the fan’s perspective
Rebuilds certainly require some patience. One night, the Hornets may go toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the NBA, and the next night Kai Jones might heave some pull-up threes that make us want to rip our collective hair out. Let’s soak it all in, the exciting parts, and the frustrating parts, too. Watching the progression of this team is like we’re raising a collective child, and that child is just starting puberty. Even though we know they are going to turn out great, the road might get bumpy. They’ll have a few voice cracks and a couple pimples might show up. Well, I still get pimples at 23, but that’s beside the point. Things are going to work out.
Before you ask, of course I am wary of things eventually crumbling in the most gut-wrenching way possible. I don’t think my trust has fully been restored from the 2006 Draft… Or the 2012 Draft, or the 2015 Draft, or… you get it. But I maintain that we should forget all that, and run towards the unknown but promising future of the Hornets with our hearts on our sleeves, ready to be heartbroken once again. For what is life if we prohibit ourselves from feeling the entire range of human emotions? A waste of existence, truly. Anyway… What was I talking about? Oh, the rebuild. Let’s review it chronologically.
The 2019 NBA Draft
The Hornets drafted PJ Washington with the twelfth pick in the draft. The Kentucky forward was the second first-round pick made by Mitch Kupchack, the first being Miles Bridges in 2018. (Miles is clearly a large part of the rebuild too, but I am starting this recap during the full tear-down of the roster, i.e the Summer of 2019).
Picking Bridges and Washington in back-to-back years seemed redundant at the time of drafting; both long, athletic forwards who were good at most things but not great at many, some Hornets fans were frustrated by what they thought were “too safe” of lottery picks–myself included. But they have both proven to fit well into Kupchack’s draft strategy of… Actually picking good, solid pieces to advance the rebuild. “Drafting good players” remains a novel concept for the Hornets, and I personally like it. There’s a scorcher of a take for you.
In the second round, the Hornets selected Cody Martin and Jalen McDaniels, who both project to see some floor time in 21-22. To have second round picks potentially play roles for a playoff-hopeful team three years after they were drafted… Impressive.
The Terry Rozier Signing & Kemba’s Departure (June 30, 2019).
“LMAOOOO”
“Why do I cheer for this poverty franchise?”
“Mitch what are you doing bro”
Ok, that’s enough of my Twitter drafts from that day.
Disappointment was pretty much the universal sentiment after the Hornets let their all-time leading scorer walk and replaced him with a career backup.
Then a couple of games into the 19-20 season, Rozier showed scoring flashes that produced thoughts of him possibly being a real starter. Then he started showing those flashes more consistently, and at this point, they’re not flashes, Terry is just really good. Two years removed from the signing and coming off his first ever 20 PPG season, Terry Rozier is wonderful and imagining him on another team upsets me. I love him. More on him in a bit.
The Rest Of The 2019 Offseason
The Hornets also parted ways with Jeremy Lamb, Frank Kaminsky, and Tony Parker. Tony Parker. Tony Parker. If I type it enough, maybe his stint with Charlotte will feel real. Wait, was that real?
I just googled it. Tony Parker really did play for the Hornets. That was not a fever dream.