The Charlotte Hornets' future, as currently constructed, relies on the duo of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. However, the fact that they have only played together in a half-season worth of games since joining forces in 2023 has made it tough to gauge whether they are capable of carrying the long-struggling franchise to the promised land.
Out of a possible 173 contests so far, Ball and Miller have suited up at the same time in just 41 of them. That number could increase during this season alone, as Ball continues to deal with an ominous ankle injury that the organization has described as an impingement. Meanwhile, Miller is expected to be out for at least one more week due to a shoulder subluxation.
It has been frustrating to watch the stars battle with injuries. Notably, each of them has had only one relatively healthy campaign. Ball made 75 appearances during his sophomore year but has never logged over 51 contests in the other four of his first five seasons in the league. Similarly, Miller played in 74 matches during his rookie campaign, followed by a 27-game appearance last season. In this campaign, the third-year pro has already sat out seven times and is in danger of missing at least several more.
Hornets may have to reassess their direction
As harsh as it may sound, the Hornets might need to evaluate whether trusting Ball and Miller to be the pillars of their rebuild is still worth it.
There's no doubt about the pair's talents, as the point guard has displayed his superstar potential time and time again. At the same time, Miller's floor, if his development hadn't gotten derailed by his various ailments, is definitely a perennial All-Star. The tandem is also a seamless fit on the court — in theory. The gravity each of them should command could open the floor for themselves and their teammates.
Unfortunately, 41 games of playing together are clearly not enough for the Hornets' cornerstones to prove they are capable of transforming the squad into a contender. Another statistic worth mentioning is that Charlotte has won only 15 of those contests, equivalent to a 36.6 winning percentage. To be fair, nearly half of those matches came when Miller was still coming into his own.
The thing is, any route the team chooses to take would be perilous. Sticking with the status quo requires hoping for the best that Melo will eventually figure out his puzzling, persistent bouts with injuries.
Trading away Ball would mean giving up on arguably the most gifted hoopster it has had in a very long time. And the Hornets would need plenty of luck in the draft lottery to find a replacement of similar quality. They could also wish to the basketball gods that a disgruntled star somewhere wants a new environment and decides that Charlotte is his next stop. But let's face it, that may merely be a pipe dream for now.
Moreover, building around Miller could put the organization in another precarious situation, because, as it has turned out, the rising star might also be made of glass. In his defense, he has suffered primarily from freak injuries and not lingering ones, unlike what Ball has been experiencing.
A silver lining for the Hornets is that they have several young players who have demonstrated, as early as now, that they can be part of the foundation of another rebuild. Sure, such a scenario could be terribly grueling for the team and its fans, but at least it is not starting from ground zero again.