The Charlotte Hornets may have had a disappointing 2024-25 season, but at least there were some bright spots, including the emergence of Moussa Diabate. The big man evolved from being a two-way player to a legitimate rotation guy with a standard contract.
However, despite showing he deserved minutes, he had to continue waiting in the wings. Only when almost-Los Angeles Lakers center Mark Williams, the now-gone Nick Richards, and newcomer Jusuf Nurkic were sidelined that Diabate usually found his way up in the depth chart.
Given that the Hornets had no choice but to extend their rebuild this year, they probably should have made him a fixture in the rotation to let him develop fully instead of assigning him fluctuating minutes.
Moussa Diabate continues to show improvement during the downtime
It remains to be seen what Charles Lee has planned for the 23-year-old this summer and next season. The Hornets coach has offered high praises for him from time to time, but the playing time has yet to be consistent with the words of acclaim.
In Lee's defense, Diabate still has to work on his skills and body to keep up with the best big men in the league. He has shown potentially elite rebounding skills, although he can stand to benefit from bulking up so that he can demonstrate better defensive resistance in the paint. Well, it looks like Moose understands that, as he seems to be spending time in the gym.
A sports performance trainer recently posted a video of Diabate working out on Instagram. And it appears like he is already gaining muscles, which should have fans excited about the possibility of watching him more on the floor in the 2025-26 campaign.
One of the knocks against the French youngster was that it was relatively easy for bulkier opponents to have their way around him near the rim. He has had to rely on his athleticism to outsmart taller and larger foes. But with increased upper body and lower body strength, it will be easier for him to go toe to toe against his defensive assignments.
It would also help his cause if he displays the ability to play the power forward and suit up alongside Williams, Nurkic, or whichever big man ends up on the roster after the offseason. Perhaps developing his outside shooting should be next on Moussa's to-do list in the offseason.
It's tough to imagine Diabate being Charlotte's long-term starting center. However, he does look good as a second-string big because of his energy, rebounding, defense, and occasional offensive outbursts.