Hornets receive votes for “Worst Offseason” in ESPN survey

ESPN released their annual offseason survey today, showcasing the opinions of 15 executives, coaches, and scouts.

The Charlotte Hornets found themselves being mentioned, although it was not in a positive light. The Hornets received three votes for having had the worst offseason, second only to the Dallas Mavericks.

The Brooklyn Nets received two votes for the ongoing saga surrounding Kevin Durant’s trade request. The Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Portland Trail Blazers each received one vote to bring the final tally to 15.

In explaining why Charlotte received multiple votes, mention was made of the dismissal of former head coach James Borrego, who many believed had done a good job during his tenure with the team. Charlotte had gone from 23 wins in 2019-20 to 33 wins in 2020-21 and 43 wins in 2021-22, meaning that Borrego became the first coach in NBA history to be fired after improving his team’s win total by double digits in consecutive seasons.

Charlotte’s receiving of votes was also attributed to the ongoing legal situation surrounding forward Miles Bridges, who currently faces multiple counts of felony domestic violence stemming from an incident in June. While his situation is obviously not anything that the Hornets could have predicted or prevented, it still factors into the overall negativity that has surrounded the team this offseason.

The situation with Bridges has seemingly forced the Hornets into a holding pattern, as the only moves the team has made have been the additions of Mark Williams and Bryce McGowens through the draft as well as resigning Cody Martin as a restricted free agent.

While Borrego’s dismissal and Bridges’ arrest were the events mentioned in ESPN’s article, there have been other developments that could also be factoring into the voting. Namely, the volatile coaching search and a curious trade during the NBA draft left many fans wondering about the team’s direction.

What does all of this mean?

The true understanding of the “best” or “worst” offseason will not be known until the season tips off. However, the survey results do show that the Hornets are dealing with a negative perception throughout the league at the moment. While the upcoming season will ultimately determine the success or failure of the offseason, Hornets fans may feel more justified in their frustrations now that outside opinions have echoed some of the same sentiments.