Charlotte Hornets vs. Boston Celtics preseason preview

The Charlotte Hornets will begin their preseason slate today at 1:00 PM EST when they take on the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Charlotte Hornets will be without Cody Martin (left knew tendinopathy) and Gordon Hayward (left knee contusion).

What to watch for:

What will the rotation look like?

Look for the Charlotte Hornets to utilize an extensive rotation of players in today’s matchup. Head coach Steve Clifford has spoken about the depth of this year’s roster and was recently quoted as saying the Hornets have “more than 10 legitimate rotation players”.

NBA teams rarely utilize more than 10 players on a consistent basis in the regular season, and the preseason slate should serve as an opportunity for Clifford to begin solidifying this season’s rotation with more certainty.

How are minutes distributed at the center position?

Clifford turned some heads last week when he said that third-year big man Nick Richards was currently the backup center behind incumbent starter Mason Plumlee.

While Plumlee’s position as the starting center should not come as a major surprise, Richards’ spot as the backup may have caught some observers off guard. The 42nd pick in the 2020 NBA draft, Richards did start in five games for the Hornets last season but averaged just 7.3 minutes per night over the course of 50 appearances in 2021-22. However, Richards has reportedly made vast improvements this offseason and may be ready for a bigger role this season.

Look for rookie Mark Williams to get some run in today’s contest as well. The 15th pick in this year’s NBA draft, Williams became the highest-drafted center by Charlotte since Cody Zeller was selected 4th in the 2013 NBA draft. While many expected Williams to at least be penciled in as the backup center to begin the year, it appears that he will need to prove himself first before solidifying his spot in the rotation.

How do James Bouknight and Dennis Smith Jr. look?

Today marks James Bouknight‘s first action since last season, as the second-year guard missed all of Summer League with a hand injury. Now with a new coaching staff in place, last year’s 11th overall pick is a prime candidate for a second-year breakout. However, he first needs to prove himself worthy of a consistent spot in the rotation, and a preseason game without Cody Martin would be a great opportunity for Bouknight to begin doing so.

Meanwhile, Dennis Smith Jr. was recently signed to serve as the backup point guard behind LaMelo Ball. Smith Jr. has had a journeyman career after being drafted 9th overall in 2017, but the hope is that a clearly definined role with his home state team can help the Fayetteville, North Carolian native begin to get his career back on the right path.

What’s next for the Charlotte Hornets?

The Charlotte Hornets will be back in action on Wednesday night in Charlotte as they host the Indiana Pacers. They will follow that up with a matchup against the Celtics in Greensboro, North Carolina before rounding out the preseason with a home matchup against the Washington Wizards and a road contest against the Philadelphia 76ers.