Charlotte Hornets still a bottom tier team in recent NBA Power Ranking
There was a seismic shift in the NBA landscape following a couple of trades. Damian Lillard finally got out of Portland, ending up with the Milwaukee Bucks, while Jrue Holiday was temporarily a Trail Blazer for technical purposes only before being sent to the Boston Celtics. These moves necessitated a need for a more up-to-date NBA Power Ranking. And in an unsurprising development, the Charlotte Hornets are not viewed favorably.
The Hornets are ranked 26th in Bleacher Report’s most recent ranking. It is hard to argue this point considering that Charlotte struggled with and without their best players, leading to their 27-55 record last year. However, it is noted that there is a path toward being a more competitive team this upcoming season.
"“Miles Bridges missed all of 2022-23 after pleading no contest to a felony domestic violence charge. LaMelo Ball managed just 36 games. And Gordon Hayward has averaged just 47.7 appearances per year since he joined the Hornets.If those three can play 60-plus games each and Brandon Miller plays well enough to garner some All-Rookie love, Charlotte could push for a .500 record.”"
Miles Bridges was on a star trajectory before being off the court for the entirety of last season. It is possible that he could return to that form, but the possibility of it taking a little longer than desired and/or not happening this season is very real and cannot be discounted.
It gets a little tricky when considering the potential increased availability of LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward. Avoiding injuries is something that does not get better with time. While Ball is still young (23) and has a much better chance of rebounding from his season-ending injury, Hayward is on the other side of 30, presenting a much more difficult path for a player entering his 14th NBA season.
What the Hornets get out of Brandon Miller is really difficult to project. There are concerns about his ability to create his own offense, but luckily he is on a team that features one of the league’s best playmakers (Ball). Miller should not end up in a position where he needs to be the primary driver of the offense, at least not as a rookie. This is something that could be on the table down the line, but is something to consider in the future and not the current season.
The expectation for the Hornets is that they will be a better team in 2023-24. Pushing for or above a .500 record may be a bit much as things stand currently. It is not a question of talent it is whether or not they can prove it on the court.
