Swarm and Sting
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How should the Charlotte Hornets build their team?

By W.B. Whitted

Mar 18, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) meets with Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (2) following the 116-105 victory at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) meets with Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (2) following the 116-105 victory at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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What’s the best way to build a contender? With the Charlotte Hornets garnering the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, it’s a prescient question. The Hornets currently have a rising star in former Rookie-of-the-year award winner LaMelo Ball. They will likely be returning an All-star level talent in Miles Bridges. And their most recent draft pick, Mark Williams has shown significant promise. And with Gordon Hayward’s contract set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 season, the Hornets could find themselves in an enviable position shortly.

There are four teams left in the hunt for the NBA championship. And they could be a case study of the best way to put together a competing team. For the Lakers, they were able to garner free agents. A combination of having one of the most powerful franchise legacies in the sport, destination city, and one of their star acquisitions being a media mogul all helped land LeBron James. Anthony Davis, a Klutch sports client, soon forced his way out of New Orleans to join James in LA and a championship in 2020 followed. It’s a nice notion, but not one (for several reasons) that the Hornets would be able to duplicate.