NBA teams love the younger guys, hence why every single year, the league's top 10 picks are more often than not around the age of 18 to 19 years old. These days, the best rosters are composed of a good mix of youth and veterans. A great example would be the Boston Celtics. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are still thriving in their mid-20s, while Al Horford's experience holds it down as an anchor.
For the Charlotte Hornets, youth runs up and down its roster. Just look at franchise player LaMelo Ball, who is turning 24 in August, or Brandon Miller, only 22 and recently drafted in 2023 with the Hornets' second overall pick.
Per NBA.com, the Philadephia 76ers are the oldest team in the league — the average player being 28.3 years old. The Oklahoma City Thunder stands as the Association's youngest squad, with an average player age of 24.1 years old.
Head coach Charles Lee's squad is in the middle of the league, as Charlotte's average age is 25.3 years old.
But is this squad too young? Does it have enough older guys?
DeMarcus Cousins, who last played for the Denver Nuggets during the 2021-22 season and has recently brought his talents to a Mongolian professional basketball league, voiced his thoughts about the Hornets.
DeMarcus Cousins gushed about the Hornets' youthfulness but also sent a warning
The four-time All-Star appeared on a recent episode of "Run It Back" and discussed the situation in Charlotte. He expressed hope that the struggling squad can eventually find its bearing, although he did say that people should temper their expectations, given that the Hornets are a "young developing team."
Cousins said of the Hornets, "Obviously, nobody is expecting them to be this championship-caliber team, even a playoff team. They're a young developing team going through a rebuilding mode. This is part of it. I do like some of the pieces that they have. I do like the coach, Charles Lee, great personality. I had a chance to play for him in Milwaukee, great coach."
Charlotte fans might also be thrilled to know that the team has a fan in "Boogie," who said the team is on the right path, particularly mentioning Ball and Miles Bridges as key pieces of a "decent core."
However, the former Sacramento Kings star did offer a piece of advice for the front office, saying that it has to put the right pieces around the foundational players. Given the club's youthful nature, "real veterans" should be on the Hornets' shopping list. Cousins praised Taj Gibson as a good vet but called on the organization to add more.
What do you think? Well, it's certainly understandable that this organization can benefit from older players — providing a locker room presence that can keep the ship steady.
Who knows what the future holds? Maybe the front office can provide Ball, Miller, Bridges, and the rest with veterans. And for what it's worth, a change is likely coming in the summer.
It's up to general manager Jeff Peterson and his staff to find the right additions. If there is no change, then losing could possibly influence Ball's decision of whether to stick around or not — that's a scary thought to have for Hornets fans.
Another route would be to look at Mark Williams during the offseason. Despite what went down with the Los Angeles Lakers, plenty of options could surface if Williams is being shopped around.
A fine balance of young and old players is always helpful, and the Hornets would be a different team with that dynamic.