Pretty average. That is how it appears that the Charlotte Hornets’ position groups grade out when compared to the rest of the NBA in a recent ranking appearing in The Athletic (subscription required). Author Law Murray ranked the position groups of every NBA team as things stand currently, and the Hornets are mostly in the middle of the pack, with the exception of one position group.
Murray notes that the ranking is based on a team’s overall strength of a position group with the starter being “the primary source of evaluation” for a group, with the bench group also being considered somewhat. Criteria used for these rankings include Basketball (their ability in non-shooting aspects of the game), Availability, Depth of position group, Career, and Morale (wanting to be on a specific team).
Point Guard: 15
LaMelo Ball is the player highlighted by Murray here for the Hornets. Ball is a good player, but it is clear why he is not higher on this list. Non-shooting areas such as defense and shooting efficiency were rough for Ball last season, making it difficult to justify being higher on this list. Then there is the whole availability aspect of it all. Ball has missed quite a bit of time in his career, including most of last season.
Shooting Guard: 15
Another Hornets position group and another ranking of 15. As expected, Terry Rozier is the player mentioned in the grid by Murray. Charlotte’s shooting guard group is not anything really to write home about as currently constructed, and their middle-of-the-pack ranking appears to be carried by the presence of Rozier.
Small Forward: 19
This is a little bit of a dip when compared to the previous two position groups, but it does seem right. Gordon Hayward is the player noted in the graphics, but his starting spot is not necessarily guaranteed for the entire season. Murray would have the following tidbit about the Hornets’ in his article.
"“On one hand, Charlotte should feel great about having Brandon Miller, the second pick in June’s draft, as Gordon Hayward’s backup. On the other hand, it is hard to envision a scenario where Hayward finishes the season in Charlotte or Miller breaks out before Hayward is moved.”"
It appears that Murray, like most, believes that it is only a matter of time before Hayward is moved and Miller takes over the primary minutes in the rotation for the small forward position.
Power Forward: 16
A nice little recovery for the Hornets’ frontcourt rankings, as the group led by P.J. Washington is ranked 16th overall. Washington’s return to Charlotte came a little less than anyone would have liked, but the Hornets are in a much better spot with him on the roster than without him. Miles Bridges should also see his fair share of time at the power forward position, another player whose return will help the Hornets’ cause this season.
Center: 28
This should not come as a surprise to anyone. The Hornets are lacking in several areas that comprise these rankings, career, and depth being the most notable. Charlotte has Mark Williams, Nick Richards, and Kai Jones to take up the minutes at the center position, and that has not resulted in an inspiring ranking here.
Could Williams continue his last-season run and be a major reason why the Hornets center group is ranked higher next season? Sure. There is also the same chance that the small sample size of what he accomplished was a mirage, and those in charge look for better options elsewhere as soon as this season. Williams is in a prove-it type situation, or else he may get relegated to the bench, a spot, in which given his skill set, he may be better off.
Analysis
Here is the reality of the situation in Charlotte. The Hornets are sort of half-in, half-out and that is not an enviable position to be in for a franchise. Teams that continue to toe the line between tanking and trying to push for a spot in the Play-In Tournament are eternally irrelevant, a term that can be used to describe this extended stretch of professional basketball in Charlotte quite well.