With their loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday, the Charlotte Hornets have officially been eliminated from postseason contention. Of course, everyone has known for weeks that a playoff appearance won't be in the cards for them this year.
Still, the Hornets could have staved off elimination by one more game with a win over Miami. However, overcoming Andrew Wiggins' 42 points on 16-21 shooting and Tyler Herro's 29 points on 11-19 shooting proved too tough for the visiting squad. It also got disappointing production from LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Mark Williams.
Charlotte's active record playoff slump will now extend to nine seasons, although some had expected last summer that would be the case. Not Brandon Miller, though.
Brandon Miller had playoff expectations entering the regular season
There was some hope that the Hornets' destiny would change prior to the start of the 2024-25 regular season. After all, they entered the campaign with a promising core trio of Ball, Miller, and Williams, although the big man was injured at the start of the year.
Miller thought when asked by HoopsHype last summer about his "fair expectations" for Charlotte that it would be a playoff team.
Some folks probably scoffed at the optimism, but for a time, Buzz City actually looked like it could compete for at least a play-in tournament berth. It began the season with a 4-5 record, tied for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. However, it was a free fall from thereon for the Hornets.
Injuries have decimated the team, and several players who were expected to supply the squad with the needed production on either or both ends of the floor have had a disappointing year. Even Ball had regressed so badly that pundits are questioning whether he is the right man to build the roster around. They may have forgotten that he was on his way to a second All-Star appearance and even briefly joined NBA.com's MVP race.
Perhaps Miller making a massive leap and staying healthy could have made Charlotte more competitive. But despite seeing an increase in his average points, rebounds, and assists, his efficiency took a significant dip. His field goal and 3-point percentage declined, while his average turnovers rose by 1.0 per game. The second-year pro has yet to prove he can handle the rock well.
It would be interesting to see what the organization does in the coming offseason. Will it look to cease the playoff drought, or will it double down on its rebuild by trading away key players? Miller will more likely than not remain on the roster, especially because he is still under his rookie contract. But if the Hornets continue missing the playoffs, it wouldn't be surprising to see rumors one day about the rising star seeking a fresh start elsewhere.