It looks like it has been confirmed that Josh Green and Grant Williams won't be ready to resume on-court activities by the time the Charlotte Hornets start training camp. While that is unwelcome news for the organization, it could present an opening for the young guys to fast-track their development.
If the veterans were healthy, they would likely feature prominently in the Hornets' rotation. Green would probably even fight for a spot in the starting lineup, even though some fans don't view him as worthy of holding such a role. Meanwhile, Williams would have been among the first substitutes off the bench, especially given their thin frontcourt.
However, Hornets coach Charles Lee has apparently stated that they are going to miss training camp, per the Charlotte Observer's Roderick Boone.
No timetable has been set for their return, although Green just had surgery in June and could sit out until November. He did not perform well in his first season in Charlotte, and the extended absence does not bode well for the idea of him becoming an elite 3-and-D piece. He could even be expendable by the 2026 trade deadline if he fails to develop as hoped.
Williams' prognosis seems better, as he has started to look like his former self. That reality has also reportedly been concurred by Lee, team president Jeff Peterson, and LaMelo Ball. Still, his unavailability for training camp could be a huge blow to his development and the squad's quest to establish chemistry this offseason.
Young Hornets must step up early on
The silver lining is that there will be more opportunities for Charlotte's youngsters to prove deserving of playing significant minutes — even after the vets' returns.
Without Green, rookies Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley would likely spend more time on the floor, especially since they carry a bit more size than teammates Collin Sexton and Tre Mann. On the one hand, Williams being gone could force Lee's hand in letting Tidjane Salaun get some more runs despite an underwhelming rookie campaign. Maybe it could also be an avenue for the Hornets to experiment with twin-tower lineups involving Moussa Diabate, who appears deserving of increased playing time, at power forward.
It's worth noting that Boone said Lee has committed to using the preseason to allow Charlotte's freshmen, which presumably also include Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner, to "show their skills." Hopefully, the young guns are up to the task and prepared to help the Hornets from the get-go.