The Charlotte Hornets Have Reached an Impasse. What’s next?

Well, I’ve decided that the Charlotte Hornets have done all they could do with the season. From Melo’s early ankle sprains and current fracture to Miles Bridges’ overall mess, I find it challenging to sit and watch games anymore. I do enjoy seeing Mark Williams, who is 100% the center we have needed since forever, but I have to scratch my head over a few of the “goings on” with the team as a whole.

Games have become nearly unwatchable, and trying to find good reasons to watch, are few and far between. I do want to share with everyone what we need to think about and how to get past this impasse.

What can the Charlotte Hornets do for the future?

Every year when the playoffs look impossible to make, we, as fans, expect the team to tank for the best possible pick in the draft. Granted, it is a lottery, so there is a chance that we don’t get number 1, but the chance is higher with every loss we chalk up this season. Am I saying tank the season? I wouldn’t say I like to use that word. I prefer to say that we need to play ALL of our youth more.

The problem is that summer league games have no structure. There’s not much teamwork, and at the end, five individuals are vying for a roster spot. What would need to happen is to truly plug a player in to see how they do with the roster. Bryce McGowens, for example, is a player whose 2-way has been turned into a full deal. Why?

I’m not saying he isn’t deserving, but what is the end game for the Hornets? Are we planning on making tons of trade moves this summer to get better? It would be very un-Hornets-like for sure, but I have to keep looking at the bigger picture, hoping that somewhere in my conspiracy theories, there is a plan to make us fun to watch AND a winning team next season.

I want to make a key point regarding the draft lottery. First, it is true that with the worst record in the league, we were given the second pick in the draft, where we took Michael Kidd-Gilchrist over some other players that would have been franchise cornerstones. Hindsight is 20-20, so I won’t go there.

Regardless of what the NBA says, what the accounting firm that handles the draft says, or what anyone else says, there is a reason we did not get the number one pick. At the time, the NBA owned the basketball team in New Orleans and was looking for a buyer. What better free gift for buying a franchise than to be given the draft’s first pick? That is the first of my conspiracy theories about the NBA and Charlotte’s luck.

We have had high picks in the past, a la Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning, so it is not out of the realm of possibility that we would get it with a bad record this time. As bad records go, we really do have a lot of talent that, with a piece or 2, we could be in those playoffs every year, which from a business standpoint for the NBA, would be good for them to have a team like the Hornets emerge in the East. Ball is a marketing dream, Mark Williams is an amazing center, and the sky is the limit if we add Wembanyama.

So back over to this team and the current roster now. Charlotte is 29th in team salaries. Amazing to say that when there’s Gordon’s contract, will peak at $31 million next season. Terry Rozier is the next highest-paid player and has at least two more seasons on his contract with us. So where do we stand otherwise? Well, a decision needs to be made with PJ Washington. His contract runs out at the end of the season. Kelly Oubre’s contract does as well. Dennis Smith and Nick Richards are also at the end of their contract at the season’s end.

Ball is still with us for at least the next 2 years, and as crazy as it sounds, Cody Martin is on the longest contract of any player on the team (through the 25-26 season). I sure wish the organization would be upfront and tell us what is really wrong with his knee, but I digress. Here is what I see as possibilities happening. McGowens was converted to a regular contract and Cody Martin is on a long deal, and both are capable of playing small forward. Gordon Hayward, a small forward, has been playing quite well down the stretch, and he is on a $31 million expiring contract.

Perhaps we are looking to trade him to a team that could use the cap space when his contract ends next season. What will we be able to get for him? Also, we have 2 young guys that can play small forward if we do move him. I would like to see Oubre re-signed to the team. He wants to be here, which means a lot for this organization.

I also would like to see Dennis Smith re-signed to the team as he has been great for us this season. Nick Richards should be signed because he could be a solid backup for Williams. Do we keep Washington too? I think he could be kept with a reasonable deal. Kai Jones and JT Thor are still on deals that keep them here for a while, so determining where they are in terms of development could determine Washington’s fate.

So many things hinge on other moves and decisions. Does a massive apology from Miles Bridges keep him in Charlotte? Does it get him a contract that we use to trade him away? Do we get that first pick and get Wemby? What will our players’ worth be in the offseason? What trade value will they have?

I see we need some young vet presence to help guide this team. How we get that I do not know.  I expected big things from this team this year, but the dominos started falling that painted a really ugly picture for the season. From Miles to injuries, it has just been a never-ending nightmare of a season with Mark Williams being our brightest spot. We have a superstar point guard and the center we have needed forever. How will we build around those 2?

In the NBA you need superstar talent, solid talent, depth, and some luck. Everyone say a prayer, eat your Wheaties, and cross your fingers. Pull out those lucky rabbit feet, 4-leaf clovers, and any other good luck charms you may have stashed away because the 23-24 season is where we need to be looking, and let’s hope that our good fortune starts with the NBA draft and does nothing but keep rolling positively into the next season and seasons to come.