The Charlotte Hornets have plenty of weaknesses that need addressing if they want to rise in the standings. They are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 6-11 record.
Among the team's shortcomings is its lack of playmaking, as it averages just 22.8 assists per game and ranks 28th in that department. Beyond LaMelo Ball, no Hornet has emerged as a reliable floor general. Brandon Miller has improved in that area but still has a long way to go.
The reserves haven't been of much help either. Tre Mann, who has been dealing with a back injury, is still a scorer by heart. Vasilije Micic appears to have regressed badly this season and has fallen out of the rotation. Charles Lee tried giving KJ Simpson and Nick Smith Jr. some run at the backcourt in Charlotte's recent loss, but that didn't pan out well.
Backup point guards available in free agency
The roster certainly needs an upgrade if the Hornets wish to compete for at least a play-in spot. Then again, there's also the possibility of the franchise just riding it out with a flawed roster to ensure it has a first-round selection in what is anticipated to be a loaded 2025 draft.
However, if immediate improvement turns out to be the priority for Charlotte, it could search for some help in the trade market. It appears that team president Jeff Peterson plans to be active in studying possible upgrades via trade.
Alternatively, the Hornets can check out available free agents because there seems to be a handful of them who can solve their playmaking woes.
Markelle Fultz
A former No. 1 pick still being available in free agency at this point in the season may be a bad sign, but Markelle Fultz could be worth looking at for Charlotte.
After a disastrous start to his career, he found his niche with the Orlando Magic as a two-way point guard. However, the team's surplus of players at the position made Fultz expendable. It also doesn't help his case that he has reportedly continued to deal with lingering injury issues. If he is able to overcome his health troubles, he could be a solid addition to the Hornets.
Jacob Gilyard
After going undrafted in 2022, Jacob Gilyard spent stints with the Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets before joining the Cleveland Cavaliers' G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge, this offseason. He proved his potential as a playmaker last season when he averaged 7.0 assists per 36 minutes.
What would make the University of Richmond product an intriguing free agency prospect for Charlotte is his efficiency from beyond the arc, as he has sunk 40.3 percent of his 3-point field-goal attempts in his career.
Killian Hayes
Killian Hayes' career numbers don't scream "draft bust," but you might think he is one, given his reputation among the Detroit Pistons faithful. He may not have impacted winning that much in his brief time there, but the young point guard managed to put up 8.1 points (on 38.2 percent shooting) and 5.2 assists per contest.
The Long Island Nets guard would be a low-risk acquisition for the Hornets. And perhaps being around two other players of French descent, Tidjane Salaun and Moussa Diabate, could inspire Hayes to become a winning basketball player.
Joshua Primo
There was a time when Joshua Primo looked on his way to becoming a decent rotation player. However, allegations of indecent exposure to several women ended his San Antonio Spurs tenure much earlier than expected. He signed with the LA Clippers in 2023 and is now playing in the G League.
If Charlotte is willing to look the other way like it has done in the recent past, Primo could be worth considering. He is a natural shooting guard, although he displayed some playmaking chops when he dished out 4.5 assists per game in the Spurs' first four games in the 2022-23 regular season before news of his sexual harassment case broke out.
Dennis Smith Jr.
Former Hornets fan favorite Dennis Smith Jr. continues to be out of the league, although he still deserves a chance to play. He seems like the ideal free agency candidate for Charlotte, given that his roots are in North Carolina, and at 27 years old, he can still be a solid reserve player in the NBA.
A former No. 9 pick, Smith Jr. suited up for the Nets in the 2023-24 campaign, averaging 6.6 points and 3.6 assists in 18.9 minutes per contest. His defense still looked sharp and would give the Hornets a terrific point-of-attack defender.