Change may be needed in Charlotte as Hornets struggles continue
It’s pretty safe to say things are not going well in Charlotte. The Hornets lost their fourth consecutive game Saturday by 14 points, the third time during their losing streak where they have been on the wrong side of a double-digit final differential. At what point are major changes being considered? This has to be it, right?
The decision to bring back head coach Steve Clifford after dismissing James Borrego was always questionable at best. Now that things are continuing to go south, perhaps an end is coming to the second Clifford era in Charlotte. If things are not trending in that direction internally, it may be best for that to begin sooner rather than later because this team is currently spinning its wheels with no chance of gaining genuine traction on the horizon.
Besides dismissing their head coach, an outcome that is only becoming more and more inevitable with each loss, the Hornets could clear some roster clutter and pave the way for the younger players on their roster. Let’s be real here. The Hornets are not going to be a competitive organization any time soon. Sure, they have building blocks in LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams, but they need a whole lot more if they are ever going to be anything other than the Eastern Conference’s punching bag and an opportunity for a real team to rest their starters in the 4th quarter. Unfortunately, this is not going to happen this season and is likely off the table for next season as well.
Charlotte needs to start aggressively shopping players who are obvious trade candidates, such as Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier. Hayward and Rozier will not be part of the next competitive Hornets team, and it would be best for all parties involved to distribute their minutes to players who have a chance to do so.
As long as the Hornets continue down this path and refuse to accept their reality, they will not be able to get where they want to go.
